In a significant personal move, Hollywood icon George Clooney, along with his wife, renowned human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, and their eight-year-old twins, have officially been granted French citizenship. Legal documents confirmed the naturalisation order for the entire family, including their children Alexander and Ella.
A Quest for a "Normal Life" Away from Hollywood
The decision to embrace French citizenship aligns with George Clooney's long-stated desire to provide a grounded upbringing for his children, far removed from the intense spotlight of Hollywood. The 64-year-old Oscar winner has been vocal about his concerns regarding raising a family in Los Angeles.
"I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life," Clooney candidly shared, expressing his worries about the pressures of fame and constant media scrutiny. He pointed to France as a sanctuary where his family's celebrity status holds less weight. "France -- they kind of don't give a s*** about fame. I don't want them to be walking around worried about paparazzi," he explained, emphasising his wish to shield his twins from being compared to other celebrity children.
Embracing the Farm Life He Once Fled
The Clooney family has made a farm in France their primary home, a setting that George now cherishes but ironically avoided in his own youth. In interviews, he reflected on this full-circle moment. "Growing up in Kentucky, all I wanted to do was get away from a farm, get away from that life," he recalled. "Now I find myself back in that life. I drive a tractor and all those things. It's the best chance at a normal life."
He contrasted his childhood aversion to farm chores with the benefits he sees for his own children. "You know, we live on a farm in France... But now, for them, it's like--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," Clooney stated, highlighting the values of simplicity and responsibility.
A Transatlantic Lifestyle with a French Base
While the family's main home is now in France, the Clooneys maintain a truly international lifestyle, with properties in England, Italy, and George's home state of Kentucky in the United States. Despite this global footprint, Clooney admitted that he never initially envisioned France becoming their central hub. The naturalisation process, culminating in their new citizenship status, formalises this European chapter for one of the world's most famous couples.
The move underscores a growing trend among global celebrities seeking privacy and a slower pace of life for their families, with France emerging as a preferred destination for its culture and relative indifference to star status.
