In a significant move marking their departure from the Hollywood spotlight, the renowned actor George Clooney, his human rights lawyer wife Amal, and their eight-year-old twins have officially been granted French citizenship. The French government confirmed this naturalisation through a decree published in the official Journal Officiel last weekend.
A Formal Step Towards a European Life
The official notice listed the family members, cementing their new status. The Kentucky-born actor, famous globally for films like the Ocean's series, was recorded with his full name, George Timothy Clooney. His wife was naturalised under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin, in line with French administrative practice. Their children, Ella and Alexander, were also included in the decree.
This legal step is the culmination of the family's deepening ties with France over recent years. In 2021, the couple made a substantial investment in their future by purchasing a large estate in the south of the country. Clooney later confirmed that this property had become their primary residence, signalling a major lifestyle shift away from Los Angeles.
Seeking Normalcy Away from the Paparazzi
In an interview with Esquire magazine in October, Clooney opened up about the motivations behind the move. He expressed clear concerns about raising children in the culture of Hollywood and Los Angeles. "I was worried about raising our kids in L.A.," he stated, highlighting his desire to shield them from constant paparazzi attention and comparisons to other celebrity children.
He painted a contrasting picture of their life in rural France, where the twins enjoy greater independence and a more grounded upbringing. "They're not on their iPads, you know?" Clooney remarked. "They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life." The family reportedly spends part of the year at an 18th-century villa near the town of Brignoles, a discreet location that helps them maintain a low profile, aided by France's strict privacy laws.
Integration and New Challenges
Local officials have welcomed the family warmly. Brignoles mayor Didier Brémond described the Clooneys as "a very simple and very accessible family," noting that George shops locally and has participated in community events like the reopening of the town's cinema. The mayor viewed their decision to take citizenship as a demonstration of "his love for our country."
However, adapting to life in France comes with its own set of challenges. While promoting his latest film, Clooney admitted to struggling to learn French via a mobile app. He joked to French broadcaster Canal+ that his wife and fluent children "speak French in front of me so that they can say terrible things about me to my face and I don't know."
The family's background is notably international. Amal Clooney was born in Lebanon and raised in the UK, while the twins were born in London. Representatives for Clooney did not comment on the citizenship news, and France's Interior Ministry did not clarify whether the actor has retained his American nationality, leaving his exact citizenship status private as the family begins this new chapter as French citizens.
