George Clooney is looking back at his life and career. After receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, the actor and filmmaker hosted a Master Class at the Venice Film Festival, opening up about his work and his family. In one of the talk’s most emotional beats, he addressed the death of his sister, Adelia, who died last year after being diagnosed with cancer.
“My sister, who I was very close to, got cancer last year and she died very quickly,” he said. “She died very quickly, and I was with her when she died. And there was this feeling, being with her, holding her hand when she died, understanding how brief all of this is.”
“It was minutes ago that she and I were little kids together; Minutes ago we were holding hands as little kids,” he added. “Time goes fast. All of this. And so we have to find nothing but joy.”
© AFP via Getty ImagesAda Ziedler died last December, when she was 65 years old. Clooney confirmed her death last year, speaking of her fondly.
“My sister, Ada, was my hero,” he said in a statement to PEOPLE. “She faced down cancer with courage and humor. I’ve never met anyone so brave. Amal and I will miss her terribly.”
More details about Ada’s life
She led a private life, but was photographed attending the wedding of George and Amal Clooney in Venice in 2014. Her obituary described her as an artist who worked in a school for years.
“A talented artist, she shared her skills as an elementary art teacher at Augusta Independent School for several years,” reads her obituary.
© Stephane Cardinale – Corbis“In high school, her academic achievements qualified her to be a National Merit Scholar. Her love for reading connected her with other readers in a local book club. She was also a member of the Augusta Art Guild and was a past grand marshal of Augusta’s Annual White Christmas Parade.”
Ada and Clooney were the kids of journalist Nick Clooney and beauty queen and entrepreneur Nina Bruce Warren. Adelia was one year older than George.
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