Clooney, who has appeared in a documentary about Darfur, discussed one particular episode that highlighted exactly the type of violence that has defined the region for years.
"We got stopped in the middle of nowhere, where we shouldn't have been," Clooney told Variety. "A little 10-year-old kid came over with a Kalashnikov assault rifle to my head, basically wanted to get us out of the truck."
Despite that experience (one which he recounted as casually as his shark attack survivor buddy Leonardo DiCaprio), which Clooney and co. escaped unscathed, he's made repeated trips to the region and continues to advocate on its behalf.
The actor revealed that his urge to get involved with Darfur's cause came in 2006 while promoting his film "Good Night, and Good Luck," and wanting to do something meaningful in the world. He read a New York Times column about Darfur, and promptly called his television journalist father, asking him to shoot some footage of the actor in the region that they could then broadcast back in the States.
He's been involved with the cause ever since, and told Variety that his platform as a star has allowed him to bring attention to issues that might otherwise be ignored by the public.
"I like the ability to shine light and make it loud," Clooney said.