Shailene Woodley Knew George Clooney Was at Her Broadway Play When She Heard His 'Particular Laugh': 'Oh, There's George'

Mar. 15, 2025

Shailene Woodleyhad a surprise in the audience!During a recent appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the actress, 33, recalled recognizingGeorge Clooney– her former costar in 2011’sThe Descendants– while starring inher Broadway playCult of Loveat the Helen Hayes Theater in New York City.When hostJimmy Fallonasked Woodley if she prefers to know when she has special guests in the audience, she said, “I didn’t think I would want to know before when we first started.“Shailene Woodley during an interview with Jimmy Fallon on Jan. 27, 2025.Todd Owyoung/NBC via GettyShe added, “Then as the play continued, there’s a sheet where you can sign in all of your guests who are coming backstage afterward, like when my mom was there visiting, and I remember opening it one day and seeing some names that I recognized, and I was like, ‘Oh!’ The panic set in.“However, the actress noted that, given her profession, there is a benefit to being in the know.“As an actor, there is a little bit of an exhibitionist view that does want to perform a certain way knowing someone else is in the audience,” she said. “You kind of direct a little bit of that energy for them specifically. Or I found that I did and it actually made me better. So, now I love knowing when people are coming.“Shailene Woodley on Dec. 12, 2024 in New York City.Jamie McCarthy/GettyWoodley mentioned that several ofher former costars have visited the play, which opened on Dec. 12 after starting previews on Nov. 20, includingZoe Kravitz,Iain Armitage,Betty Gilpinand Clooney.For Clooney, Woodley said she knew he was in the audience because of his distinctive laugh.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“He’s truly one of the greatest human beings,” she said. “He’s just the best. I didn’t get nervous having him there. I was excited to have him there. I could hear his laugh at one point because he has such a particular laugh. And I was like, ‘Oh, there’s George somewhere in that area.' “Shailene Woodley and George Clooney on Nov. 15, 2011 in Beverly Hills.Jeffrey Mayer/WireImageThe two starred in Alexander Payne’s comedy-dramaThe Descendantsas a father-daughter duo navigating life amid a major tragedy.In a 2011 interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Woodley shared that her chemistry with Clooney in the movie came naturally. “We got to know who he was as a person, and he suddenly became just a George and not George Clooney,” she said.As Woodley wraps her run inCult of Love, about four adult siblings returning to their childhood home for the holiday season, on Sunday, Feb. 2, Clooney is set tomake his Broadway debutin the stage adaptation ofGood Night, and Good Luck.The play, which starts performances on March 12, is based on the 2005 film that Clooney starred, directed and co-wrote about CBS news journalist Edward R. Murrow’s legendary exposé on Senator Joseph McCarthy. He will be playing Murrow in the new production.Tickets forCult of Loveare now available.

Shailene Woodleyhad a surprise in the audience!

During a recent appearance onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the actress, 33, recalled recognizingGeorge Clooney– her former costar in 2011’sThe Descendants– while starring inher Broadway playCult of Loveat the Helen Hayes Theater in New York City.

When hostJimmy Fallonasked Woodley if she prefers to know when she has special guests in the audience, she said, “I didn’t think I would want to know before when we first started.”

Shailene Woodley during an interview with Jimmy Fallon on Jan. 27, 2025.Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

She added, “Then as the play continued, there’s a sheet where you can sign in all of your guests who are coming backstage afterward, like when my mom was there visiting, and I remember opening it one day and seeing some names that I recognized, and I was like, ‘Oh!’ The panic set in.”

However, the actress noted that, given her profession, there is a benefit to being in the know.

“As an actor, there is a little bit of an exhibitionist view that does want to perform a certain way knowing someone else is in the audience,” she said. “You kind of direct a little bit of that energy for them specifically. Or I found that I did and it actually made me better. So, now I love knowing when people are coming.”

Shailene Woodley on Dec. 12, 2024 in New York City.Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Woodley mentioned that several ofher former costars have visited the play, which opened on Dec. 12 after starting previews on Nov. 20, includingZoe Kravitz,Iain Armitage,Betty Gilpinand Clooney.

For Clooney, Woodley said she knew he was in the audience because of his distinctive laugh.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“He’s truly one of the greatest human beings,” she said. “He’s just the best. I didn’t get nervous having him there. I was excited to have him there. I could hear his laugh at one point because he has such a particular laugh. And I was like, ‘Oh, there’s George somewhere in that area.' "

Shailene Woodley and George Clooney on Nov. 15, 2011 in Beverly Hills.Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

The two starred in Alexander Payne’s comedy-dramaThe Descendantsas a father-daughter duo navigating life amid a major tragedy.

In a 2011 interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Woodley shared that her chemistry with Clooney in the movie came naturally. “We got to know who he was as a person, and he suddenly became just a George and not George Clooney,” she said.

As Woodley wraps her run inCult of Love, about four adult siblings returning to their childhood home for the holiday season, on Sunday, Feb. 2, Clooney is set tomake his Broadway debutin the stage adaptation ofGood Night, and Good Luck.

The play, which starts performances on March 12, is based on the 2005 film that Clooney starred, directed and co-wrote about CBS news journalist Edward R. Murrow’s legendary exposé on Senator Joseph McCarthy. He will be playing Murrow in the new production.

Tickets forCult of Loveare now available.

source: people.com