George Clooney has opened up about receiving crucial career guidance from the legendary Paul Newman during a chance encounter back in 1998.
The 64-year-old Hollywood star was a devoted fan of Newman - who died in September 2008 at the age of 83 - and has now shared the invaluable wisdom the iconic actor imparted to him at a studio lot all those years ago.
Chatting to Variety, George revealed: "I pulled up and I go, 'Hey, Mr. Newman'. And he clearly had no clue who I was. But he was friendly and we started talking.
"People would drive by going, 'George!' 'Hey, George!' 'Hey, man!' Bit by bit, he figured out that I was well known in some way. And as I started to leave, he goes, 'Don't let them keep you inside.'".
The Ocean's Eleven star confessed it took him quite a while to truly grasp what Newman was getting at with his parting words.
He explained: "What he was talking about was fame, and the tendency to surround yourself with managers and PR people who build these walls of security so that you don't get caught doing something stupid.
"But what happens is you can divorce yourself from what's really going on out there. You need people in your life that tell you the truth."
George had experienced a massive professional blow in 1997 when he took on the role in Batman and Robin.
The disastrous film threatened to derail both the lucrative franchise and George's burgeoning career - though he's since revealed the experience taught him vital lessons about the industry.
Reflecting on his time making the movie, George recalled: "It was a very painful suit, and you couldn't move.
"I would be laying on a board, and Joel Schumacher would direct you with a giant speaker, and he would go, 'OK, George, and here we go. And ready? Your parents are dead. You have nothing to live for. And - action!'
"And then they'd just prop me up and I go, 'I'm Batman,' and they go, 'And cut.' And they drop me back down, and then they carry me out on the board."
In the past, George has acknowledged that he's been the "recipient of a lot of luck" in his life.
Speaking to AARP, the actor shared: "I think the only life lesson is to bet on yourself. And when there's opportunities, you gotta go.
"In my life, I have been the recipient of a lot of luck. But I also believe you create opportunity for luck. You create enough opportunity and, every once in a while, you'll hit one."
George also emphasises living a "really full life", rather than fretting over potential problems.
The Hollywood star expressed: "There's no rhyme or reason for who gets to age and who doesn't. So you should live as if you're not going to get to. And then, if you wake up one day and you're old, you've lived a really full life."