Woodley calls co-star George Clooney 'least intimidating person on the planet'

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Shailene Woodley, left, and George Clooney, cast members in "The Descendants," pose together at the premiere of the film, Nov. 15, 2011, in Beverly Hils, Calif. For her role in "The Descendants," 20-year-old newcomer Shailene Woodley was tasked with treating George Clooney not as an industry icon, but with the sort of dismissive derision a rebellious teenager would apply to her dad. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ AP - Chris Pizzello

TORONTO - For her role in "The Descendants," 20-year-old newcomer Shailene Woodley was tasked with treating George Clooney not as an industry icon, but with the sort of dismissive derision a rebellious teenager would apply to her dad.

So, it was important that Woodley — with no major film projects on her resume — avoid being intimidated by the 50-year-old heart-throb.

"The first day I met him, my heart was pounding — like, 'Ohh, that's George Clooney!' I started sweating," a cheerful Woodley recalled during an interview at September's Toronto International Film Festival.

"And then he came up to me, gave me a big hug, and said: 'Welcome, sweetie.' ... And immediately the intimidation factor went away."

"George Clooney is the least intimidating person on this planet."

Still, that isn't to say that Clooney didn't earn Woodley's respect over the course of shooting in Hawaii.

"The man is a superhuman," she gushed. "He was never in his trailer, never in hair and makeup, always on the set hanging out with transportation guys or craft service guys or the dolly grips, playing basketball with the dudes. He's just a normal guy. You take away the (fame) and he's just a guy from Kentucky with a heart of gold."

Clooney was similarly effusive in returning the praise for Woodley while making the press rounds at the Toronto festival, and he's not the only observer who has singled out her performance in the emotional drama.

"The Descendants," which opens Friday in cities across the country, casts Clooney as a Hawaiian lawyer whose wife is dying after sustaining head injuries in a freak boating accident. Consumed with grief, he seeks to reconnect with his two defiant daughters while seething over the news that his wife was having an affair prior to her accident. Complicating matters further, he has to decide what to do with a valuable piece of Hawaiian land that he's inherited.

Written and directed by Oscar winner Alexander Payne ("Sideways," "Election"), "The Descendants" is a low-key, contemplative family drama that earned raves during its run in Toronto, with particular praise being heaped upon Woodley — Variety, for instance, called her a "revelation."

Best-known for playing the lead role on the ABC Family hit "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," Woodley portrays Alexandra King as a restlessly bright rebel, lashing out with equal fury at her emotionally distant dad and unfaithful, fading, mother. She's essentially Clooney's only foil in the movie — which doesn't give the Academy Award winner's character a romantic interest — and the organic way in which their bond grows lends the film its emotional heft.

She said the cast similarly grew closer over the course of shooting in Hawaii. She and actor Nick Krause — who portrays her lunk-head boyfriend in the film — had their mothers with them on the island, and the families embarked on weekend jaunts to Maui together. Along with Amara Miller (who plays Woodley's precocious younger sister), the three became a "mini-family," Woodley said.

"We all got along really well because we didn't have one diva on the set," she said, singling out her director for more accolades while admitting she wasn't overly familiar with his films prior to being hired for "Descendants."

"(Payne) is one of those people you meet and you thank God every day — well, I don't necessarily believe in God, but I thank something every day for his presence on this Earth because he does so much for so many people."

Woodley says she was drawn to the script because of its real, human quality. Her surly character spouts profanity at a truly robust pace, merely rolling her eyes any time her dad objects (asked whether she's concerned that ABC Family execs might take issue with the salty language, Woodley shakes her head: "No, not at all ... I'm one character on one show, I'm one character in the movie, and I'm Shay in real life.")

Doing the festival press rounds, Clooney seemed personally taken with one of Woodley's scenes in particular, in which the young actress — having just heard grave news about her mother's diagnosis while swimming in the family's backyard pool — submerges herself and cries underwater. Yet when asked whether the scene was especially demanding, Woodley just shrugs.

"I started swimming at one and a half, so water's always been my safe zone — it's where I'm comfortable," she said. "And for me as a human being, crying underwater is no big deal because it's water. Doesn't everyone do that?"

Well, no. But Woodley is likewise humble when asked about the critical raves for her performance, as well as the awards buzz for the film that began rumbling at the Toronto festival.

"It's really bizarre," she said. "Four months in Hawaii was the icing on the cake, so I don't know what this is.... This is beyond fathomable for me."

"Whatever happens, happens. That's perfect. It'll fold out exactly as it's supposed to."