George Clooney admits 'he can't speak' after sinus infection as he returns to red carpet

Hollywood legend George Clooney admitted "I can't speak" despite returning to the red carpet last night having missed film festival events due to "a bad sinus infection".

The four-time Golden Globe winner pulled out of press conferences and photo-calls at the Venice Film Festival due to the health concerns. The 64-year-old star did, though, make it for the world premiere of his latest film Jay Kelly, and was snapped on the red carpet with glamorous wife Amal.

But at several points, Clooney was seen clutching his throat and reportedly broke off to explain to the crowds: "I can’t speak!" The mysterious health scare had sparked concern among fans earlier on Thursday, but insiders stressed to The Hollywood Reporter there was nothing to worry about.

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Clooney, born in Lexington, Kentucky, was reportedly "so devastated" he could not be at the press conference for the coming-of-age drama Jay Kelly. His co-stars, including Adam Sandler, Laura Dern and Billy Crudup attended the event in Venice, as well as the cast dinner afterwards.

The film's director Noah Baumbach said: "Even movie stars get sick." The press conference moderator told journalists: "George Clooney is not going to be here because he has a bad sinus infection and I think he should be on the red carpet tonight and he’s very sorry he can’t be with us."

But Clooney, a dad of two, sailed through the 30-minute red carpet appearance later that night - again in Venice - which saw the cast pose for glamorous photographs and talk to reporters. Although Clooney told the crowds he had difficulty speaking, he and Amal shone on the red carpet.

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In the film, Clooney plays the the titular Kelly, a famous movie star, while Sandler plays his devoted manager, as they embark on a journey of self discovery on a trip across Europe.

Baumbach discussed writing the film specifically for Ocean’s Eleven star Clooney, saying: "I’ve known George over the years and have been wanting to find something to do with him and early on we started to say ‘This is going to be George.’

“I felt it was really important the audience watching the movie have a relationship with the actor playing the character, so that we all watching it have a history with George – just like the people in the movie have a history with Jay.

“The character is running from himself for so much of the movie and deflecting and trying to hide, and what essentially I was asking of George was to reveal more and more of himself as he does that.”

Jay Kelly will be released in UK cinemas on November 14 and will launch on Netflix on December 5.