George Clooney's glamorous ex Elisabetta Calanis has finally opened up about their romance.

The Italian TV presenter, who split with the actor in June, says the actor was more like a father figure to her.

"He has been special for me, and very important, just as a father would be," says Elisabetta in Questo Amore (This Love), a new book by Italian journalist Bruno Vespa.

When asked to elaborate, she adds: "Between us there was more of a father-daughter relationship.

"I was unable to clarify this up until now."

According to the 33-year-old, George's reluctance to wed was not the reason for the break-up.

"George and I never spoke of marriage nor of having kids," she says, in a translation given to US publication People.

"I don't put limits to the possibility of having them, but neither George nor I had ever envisaged having kids together.

"The end of the relationship was not caused by a marriage issue, but instead by our personal needs."

Photo: © Rex Features