He recently admitted he was “embarrassed” standing next to his wife Amal Clooney on the red carpet as she always steals the show and insiders say Hollywood heartthrob George continues to struggle playing second fiddle to his glamorous wife.

A source says, “George used to be the one that everyone wanted to talk to, but these days Amal is getting way more attention when they’re out mingling. Sure, people will recognise him and be friendly, but it’s Amal that they gush over.”

They add, “She’s always very gracious, talking to everyone and charming the room while George is just left standing beside her like chopped liver.”

Last week, all eyes were on Amal at the Los Angeles premiere of The Boys in the Boat, a film about University of Washington’s rowing team’s Olympic gold achievement in the 1930s, which is produced and directed by George.

Human rights lawyer Amal, 45, stunned in a bright yellow custom-made Versace dress, which she teamed with a sparkling gold clutch and Cartier statement earrings featuring both yellow and white diamonds.

During the evening, George – who was dressed in a classic black suit and a blue dress shirt underneath – admitted that his wife always manages to upstage him on the red carpet.

“She cleans up,” the Ocean’s Eleven actor said. George, 62, added, “I’m always embarrassed because I’m wearing something that I’ve worn, like, 1,000 times”. He then joked that his “entire career has been reduced to a plus one now.”

“I did one of those Women in Film things a couple years ago, and I had to introduce myself as ‘Amal Clooney’s husband’ because, honestly, I was dead otherwise,” he laughed. But as George tries to make light of not being in the spotlight, we’re told it does occasionally penetrate deeper.

“He jokes that he’s just there to hold her purse but it’s actually a bit of a sore point for him,” we’re told. “He’s having major insecurities about his age and worries that soon he’ll just be another invisible old man, and Amal getting all the attention certainly isn’t helping ease his fears,” they say.

In October, the power couple celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary at the New York Public Library, hosting their second annual Albie Awards, which they launched last year with their Clooney Foundation for Justice.

The organisation works on human rights abuses across the world with programs dedicated to fighting “systemic injustice against vulnerable communities: journalists, women and girls, democracy-defenders, LGBTQ persons and minorities.
Amal wore a custom white embellished corset gown to the event. Speaking about his wife, with whom he has six-year-old twins Ella and Alexander, George, said, “She inspires me in everything she does. And by the way, yesterday was our ninth wedding anniversary. Said it wouldn’t last, you know what I’m saying?”

Before meeting Amal, the Academy Award winner had been linked to many women and was labelled a bachelor because of his disinterest in marriage. But in 2013, he was introduced to Amal through a mutual friend. One year later, they tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Venice, Italy. 

George gushed that Amal – who won a leadership award for her global work for victims of human rights abuse at the 14th Annual DVF Awards in August – had changed his life.

“All I know is that it sort of changed everything in terms of what I thought my future–my personal future–was going to be. But I’ve always been an optimist about the world. I wasn’t always completely optimistic about how it was going to work out personally for me. But now I am,” he said.

Amal also opened up on married life.
“It felt like the most natural thing in the world,” she explained. “Before that experience, I always hoped there could be love that was overwhelming and didn’t require any weighing or decision-making. It’s the one thing in life that I think is the biggest determinant of happiness, and it’s the thing you have the least control over. Are you going to meet this person? 

“I was 35 when I met him. It wasn’t obvious that it was going to happen for me. And I wasn’t willing or excited about the idea of getting married or having a family in the absence of that.” 

But the source adds that the 17-year-age gap between the pair has become more noticeable recently.

“When they met, he was still feeling pretty invincible, so their age difference didn’t seem all that pronounced, but the last couple of years that’s changed, it’s obvious that she’s decades younger and naturally, his ego is taking a bit of a hit,” the insider says.

They add, “It’s sad because George truly loves Amal, his ego is just getting in the way. If he’s smart though he’ll find a way to get a handle on his insecurities before they start to affect his relationship.”