George Clooney's recent outing as an assassin in The American has been contradicted by a real life drama, his own fear of guns.

In a recent interview with German magazine Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Clooney said, "Guns, rifles - there's something frightening about them. Still. Although I've grown up with them in Kentucky and although I've had to use them in a lot of my films. I've learned to use them, but I'm still scared of them."

The Hollywood actor has starred in numerous films with ample action including Three Kings , Out of Sight and The Thin Red Line which required training with weapons.

The second reason is my advanced age. I'm literally aging before your faces I'm not vain though. I welcome it, the ageing. Otherwise I would have coloured my hair by now.

Despite the revelations Clooney's recent outing in The American was praised, and has proved a box office winner. His previous films include comedy/drama Up In The Air , which garnered awards including a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for the best screenplay.

Clooney recently teamed up with Will Smith and a whole host of other leading industry figures to raise money for Cancer Research with the Stand Up to Cancer Telethon.