Clooney gave up a lot to be part of the political drama Syriana -- he gained thirty pounds (which is apparently not as much fun as it sounds), and suffered a severe injury that briefly had him contemplating suicide. While filming a torture scene, he was thrown over a chair and smacked his head so hard that he was leaking spinal fluid out of his nose. That is probably just as horrifyingly painful as it sounds. After suffering crippling migraines for weeks on end, a neurologist discovered exactly what was wrong with him. His treatment was almost as scary as his actual injury -- he was tied down to a bed while doctors injected blood into his spine, essentially giving him a spinal tap every day for fifteen days. Clooney admits that he still suffers lingering effects from this injury, but that a marathon surgery session combined with therapy has helped him cope. We imagine that the Academy Award he won for Syriana wouldn't completely make the pain worth it, but it has to be a little bit of a boost.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
