throb actor George Clooney has split from his Italian friend of two years Elisabetta Canalis, the ex-couple said Wednesday. “We are not together anymore. It's very difficult and very personal, and we hope everyone can respect our privacy,” they said in a joint statement cited by People magazine. A spokesman for 32-year-old Canalis added: “It is a very personal and sad matter, and Elisabetta wants it to remain that way. She will be taking some time... and then will face the press.” The celebrity couple were first seen in public at the Venice Film Festival in 2009. The 50-year-old actor was married to actress Talia Balsam from 1989-93, but has downplayed the chances of getting hitched again. “I gave it a shot,” Clooney, whose friends have also included Renee Zellwegger, told CNN's Piers Morgan in January. Clooney's “The Ides of March”, a thriller about a US presidential campaign, will open this year's Venice Film Festival. – Agence France
