ELLEN BARKIN KNOWS WHEN TO FOLD EM

Ellen Barkin received poker lessons from Oceans 13 co-star Matt Damon.

What’s the only woman to do on a set filled with handsome movie stars? Well when you’re Ellen Barkin in a film like Oceans 13 where the only game in town is gambling you learn when to fold ‘em and when to hold ‘em.

Ellen got some money saving tips from card shark Matt Damon who plays her love interest in the film.

“I play blackjack and certain of my cast members taught me how to play Hold ‘Em. I had no idea how to play poker so I just started from the beginning not to bet. Don’t get so excited and bet when you have no cards and also what’s a good hand and what’s not a good hand because I think two threes and I get really excited. And Matt’s like you’re not putting money in on two threes.”

Ellen learned some essential poker tells from Matt but also received lessons from a pro.

“In fact Jerry Weintraub was really kind and set me up with a former world champion, the guy who has a bracelet to give me some poker lessons. And I got really excited and then at the end I said, ‘OK I’m going in the room,’ and he said, ‘you can’t go in the room. They’re not gonna let you play, you’re too slow.’ So I could only play in the private games.”

Ellen also took part in the members only Oceans Club, a card carrying venue where the cast and crew would retire at the end of a long days’ shoot to eat, drink and play poker. Oceans 13 opens Friday in theaters.