In a recent announcement documented in France’s Journal Officiel, the Kentucky-born actor George Clooney, his spouse Amal Clooney (née Alamuddin), and their twins, Ella and Alexander, have been officially granted French citizenship. The decree confirms that Amal was naturalized using her maiden name, while also noting George Clooney's full middle name, Timothy.
The Clooney family acquired a property in France in 2021, which has since become their primary home. In a detailed October interview with Esquire magazine, George Clooney elaborated on the reasoning behind this move, emphasizing concerns about raising their children outside the intense celebrity culture prevalent in Los Angeles. At 64 years old, Clooney expressed a purposeful choice to shield his twins from the pressures of paparazzi attention and constant comparisons to other children in the public eye.
Describing daily life in France, Clooney highlighted the benefits of a quieter upbringing, noting that away from the spotlight, his children are engaged in typical family routines without distractions from screens and celebrity culture. He stated, “They’re not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life.”
Requests for comment from George Clooney's representatives were not returned, nor did the French Interior Ministry provide immediate clarifications regarding the family's new citizenship status. Notably, it remains uncertain whether Clooney retains his American citizenship alongside his new French nationality.
Born in Lebanon and raised in the United Kingdom, Amal Clooney and the twins, who are currently eight years old and born in London, reportedly speak French fluently. George Clooney, meanwhile, has admitted to struggling with the language, humorously describing his efforts to learn French via an app as “horrible, horrible.” He shared anecdotes of his family speaking French around him, joking about them potentially making critical remarks he cannot understand.
The Clooneys reside part-time in an upscale 18th-century villa near Brignoles in southern France. This location offers a discreet lifestyle and the advantage of strong privacy protections under French law, shielding their children from unauthorized photography. Didier Brémond, Mayor of Brignoles, remarked in an interview with BFMTV that the Clooney family is approachable and grounded, frequently participating in local activities such as shopping and attending the opening of the town's cinema. The mayor suggested that the couple's decision to adopt French citizenship demonstrates their affection for the country and their intention to live a more ordinary life away from the glare of global fame.