Clooney, Witherspoon: Dreams Come True

By: Brian Dakss

Two of Hollywood biggest stars went home with Oscar gold Sunday night, with George Clooney winning best supporting actor for Syriana, and Reese Witherspoon walking away with the best actress statuette for her portrayal of country music legend June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line."

It was the first Academy Award for both.

The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith caught up to both after the show, at the Governor's Ball.

Smith reminded Clooney that, "I saw you last night and I said, 'Good luck,' and you gave me a hug."

"Well," Clooney responded, "that's because I was drunk and I thought you were attractive."

When Smith wondered how he looked at the ball, Clooney diplomatically kidded, "Well, I'm not drunk." And they both laughed.

Clooney is one of Hollywood's most well-respected "A-listers." He walked in to the ceremony with three nominations, two for writing and directing the Edward R. Murrow biopic "Good Night and Good Luck," and the other for his role in "Syriana."

"You struggled in this town for a long, long time," Smith observed to Clooney, "in total obscurity."

"Thanks, with a mullet," Clooney laughed.

"To have been able to stand there tonight," Smith said, "to have had a movie nominated, 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' and for your own nomination, to be able to actually win, that's quite a culmination."

"It makes for a fun year," Clooney agreed. "It makes it fun because you spend a lot of time trying to get things done that you want, that you believe in, but they're hard to get done, and it's tricky, and usually you don't get the toys to play with, you know what I mean? You only get them for a very short period of time, as you and I both know. So, if you get lucky enough to have them work, then you feel you caught a break along the way. I feel like I caught a break."