George Clooney knew Donald Trump "very well" during his early days in Hollywood

The Hollywood star told Variety: "I knew him very well.

"He used to call me a lot, and he tried to help me get into a hospital once to see a back surgeon. I'd see him out at clubs and at restaurants. He's a big goofball. Well, he was. That all changed."

George believes the US is currently struggling amid Trump's presidency.

The actor explained: "It's a very trying time.

"It can depress you or make you very angry. But you have to find the most positive way through it. You have to put your head down and keep moving forward because quitting isn't an option."

George also believes the movie industry has changed markedly during the course of his career.

He said: "The thing where you put someone's name above the title and you go see a movie because they're in it has ended. And I'm part of the last generation of stars who were a beneficiary of a studio really investing in them.

"When I was on ER, Bob Daly and Terry Semel, who were running Warner Bros. at the time, brought me in and gave me a five-picture deal. Because their company had produced my show, they wanted to be in business with me for the long haul."

George acknowledges that good fortune has helped him in his career.

He explained: "Most of my successes were middle-of-the-road hits. And that's lucky, because I was never typecast. I could do all kinds of things. I could do movies that were very serious, like Michael Clayton, and then do something wild like Burn After Reading. It meant that once I couldn't kiss the girl anymore, I could still have a career."