Julianna Margulies says she and George Clooney had a 'crush on each other' during filming for ER

Julianna Margulies has reflected on starring alongside George Clooney on the hit series ER.

Margulies played nurse Carol Hathaway for six seasons on the show and says the sizzling on-screen chemistry between their characters was no accident.

"That can't happen if you don't have a crush on each other," Margulies told People.

"And with George and me, it was so organic. I was just supposed to be a guest star, number 39 on the call sheet. But he treated everyone the same."

READ MORE: George Clooney, Julianna Margulies and the rest of the ER cast to reunite for special episode

Margulies was originally booked for a guest role but scored a part that saw Clooney becoming her "mentor" on the program.

"I followed and watched how he conducted himself on the set. When you create an environment that people feel safe in, then you do your best work," she said. "And George taught me that. I felt so safe with him. I mean, I never thought, 'Well, why would I be in the bathtub and he's coming in?' I was like, 'OK, I'll be in the bathtub. Yeah, great.'"

READ MORE: George Clooney reveals Amal Clooney has been watching old episodes of ER: 'Getting me in a lot of trouble'

Clooney starred as Dr Doug Ross in the hit medical drama between 1994 and 1999. His wife Amal Clooney has recently watched re-runs of episodes from the series.

"My wife is watching them now," the actor said in a recent appearance on the podcast SmartLess. "It's getting me in a lot of trouble because I'd forgotten all of the terrible things [Doug] was doing picking up on women."

The cast of ER are all expected to reunite on "Stars In The House" for a special Earth Day episode.

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