United Kingdom, Jan. 13 -- George Clooney "would be honoured" to work with Paul Dano, Owen Wilson and Matthew Lillard.

The Jay Kelly actor used his acceptance speech at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards at the weekend to defend the three stars after their talents were criticised by director Quentin Tarantino on the Bret Easton Ellis podcast last month.

Accepting the Best Actor prize for Jay Kelly, George noted the movie is "about... and made by people who love actors" and said he doesn't "enjoy watching people be cruel to actors."

He added: "By the way, Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and Matthew Lillard? I would be honoured to work with those actors. Honoured!

"We're living in a time of cruelty, and we don't need to be adding to it.

"I'm ...