Hollywood star George Clooney and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney have officially been granted French citizenship, a move the couple says was motivated by concerns about raising their children amid the pressures of Hollywood. The announcement, which also applies to their 8-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, appeared in a French government journal on Saturday. Representatives for the family did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
How George and Amal Clooney Acquired French Citizenship
The Clooneys first made their move to the South of France in 2021, purchasing an $8.3 million farm, according to Hello! magazine. George, 64, has spoken openly about the benefits of raising their twins on a farm rather than in Los Angeles.
“We’re very lucky. You know, we live on a farm in France,” Clooney told Esquire in October. “A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid I hated the whole idea of it. But now, for them, it’s like—they’re not on their iPads. They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life.”
The actor expressed his worries about raising children in the Hollywood spotlight. “I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life,” he said. “France—they kind of don’t give a s–t about fame. I don’t want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi. I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids.”
Clooney has emphasized the importance of privacy for their family, noting that French culture allows children to grow up largely out of the public eye. “Here, they don’t take photos of kids,” he explained in a recent radio interview, joking about his ongoing French lessons. “There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us.”
Reflecting on his life earlier this year, Clooney told People that he’s in a “comfortable place” personally and professionally. “I like what I do for a living, I have great friends,” he said. “I spend time with people that I love, and I’ve been able and lucky enough late in life to be able to spend time with my family.”
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