In a move blending celebrity glamour with a quest for privacy, Hollywood icon George Clooney and his renowned human rights lawyer wife, Amal, have officially become citizens of France. Their eight-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander, have also been granted citizenship, marking a significant family transition to European life.
The Official Decree: A New Status for the Clooneys
The formal announcement was made in France's Journal Officiel, the official gazette for government decrees, last weekend. The notice confirmed the naturalization of the entire Clooney family. Interestingly, the documentation listed Amal Clooney under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin, while also noting George's full name, which includes his middle name, Timothy.
This legal step formalizes the family's deepening ties to the country, following their purchase of a substantial estate in France back in 2021. Representatives for George Clooney did not provide additional comments on the matter when approached recently. It remains unclear at this time whether George Clooney has renounced his American citizenship or now holds dual nationality.
Seeking a Simpler Life Away from Hollywood
The decision to make France their primary home is deeply rooted in parental concerns. In an interview with Esquire magazine in October, the 64-year-old actor opened up about his motivations. He expressed unease about raising his children in Los Angeles, within the pervasive culture of Hollywood.
"I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood," Clooney stated. "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."
A "Better Life" in the French Countryside
Clooney contrasted the potential life in LA with their current experience at their farm in France. He painted a picture of a more grounded and present childhood for the twins, away from the relentless media spotlight. "They're not on their iPads, you know?" he observed. "They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life."
This shift underscores a growing trend among global celebrities seeking sanctuary and normalcy for their families outside traditional entertainment hubs. Amal Clooney, who was born in Lebanon and raised in the United Kingdom, along with the twins who were born in London, now add French citizenship to their international backgrounds.
The Clooneys' journey from Hollywood A-listers to citizens of a French commune highlights a deliberate choice to prioritize family privacy and a different cultural upbringing over the glamour and scrutiny of Tinseltown.
