Working on location in Hawaii, being directed by an award-winning film maker with a big budget in his purse, oh, and having to sit on the lap of officially the world's most desired gentleman...

So Shailene Woodley, what was the worst part of co-starring with George Clooney in The Descendants?

"Leaving, and having to go home. That was probably the most challenging thing," is the best she can give us, disappointingly for those hoping for some titillating picture of Hollywood's Mr Georgeous to emerge from the set.

Woodley plays Clooney's daughter in the already much-praised Descendants, where the Ocean's Eleven star plays a businessman who must reconnect with his family after his wife falls into a coma and he discovers she has a secret lover.

Woodley shares much screen time with Clooney and, while no Hollywood newcomer herself after film and TV appearances since she was a tiny thing, admits to nerves for her first encounter with the A-lister:

"I didn't think I was nervous and then I saw him and came over all sweaty.

"He came up to me, gave me a big hug and said 'welcome sweetie', and the intimidation went away. He's such a down-to-earth, comfortable guy to be around, such a positive, happy human being that the feeling on the entire set emanated from him, and from director Alexander (Payne). It was a collaboration of a bunch of artists having fun."

The idea of Clooney and co being left alone by the masses to get creative in the open air seems unlikely, but Woodley insists they achieved it:

"There really weren't that many people, because it was Hawaii. People were very respectful there, locals don't really care if you if you're in movies or TV there - they just want to surf - so there wasn't a big George Clooney factor.

"Hawaii is just a magical place, so often it didn't feel as if we were actually creating a film. The crew were all barefoot on the sand holding the cameras, often with their Hawaiian shirts on, and it very much felt like they were just as much of part of the film as we were. There wasn't a bridge between two worlds, it all just merged."

Woodley, with a Golden Globe nomination already under her belt for her role, remains unfazed by the recent rise in her profile, and in no rush to capitalise on it:

"I see it as an amazing opportunity to learn from these other people. Acting is fun, but until I read a screenplay that fuels my soul... that feeling in my stomach is the yes or no. Right now, I'm working on the show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and we'll just see what happens."

The Descendants is in UK cinemas now. Watch the trailer below: