'Lonely' George has trouble nodding off

George Clooney is "lonely" and has trouble sleeping.

The 'Ides of March' actor - who is currently dating ex-wrestler Stacy Keibler - has confessed he has a "very tough time" nodding off, and often feels alone when attending public events.

He said: "Turning off the television causes me to think, and once I start that vision roaring, I have a very tough time getting to sleep. I'm able to numb out. Without question, I wake every night five times.'

"Anyone would be lying if they said they didn't get lonely at times. The loneliest you will get is in the most public of arenas: You will go to a place and end up in the smallest compartment possible, because it's a distraction to everybody, and you end up not getting to enjoy it like everyone else."

However, the 50-year-old star - who has previously dated a host of beauties, including Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis and British presenter Lisa Snowdon - explained he has felt "infinitely more alone" in bad relationships in the past.

He added in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: "I have been infinitely more alone in a bad relationship; there's nothing more isolating. I have been in places in my life where that has existed."

Meanwhile, George admitted he has previously been through the "painful" experience of trying to get a former flame back.

He explained: "[I've been] left for someone; all those things. And it was sometimes a surprise, and sometimes you saw it coming. The most painful was when I kept trying to get one woman back. But we all make dumb mistakes."