George Clooney, Amal and their children obtain French citizenship

France’s government has confirmed that actor George Clooney, his wife Amal, and their twin children, Ella and Alexander, have been granted French citizenship.

The naturalisation of the Kentucky-born star of the “Ocean’s” film series and his family was formally announced last weekend in the Journal Officiel, the publication that records French government decrees, as per US media.

According to the notice, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney was naturalised under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin, and the document also specified that George Clooney’s middle name is Timothy.

The Clooneys purchased an estate in France in 2021. In an interview with Esquire published in October, Clooney said that their “farm in France” has become their primary residence, a decision he and his wife made with their children’s upbringing in mind. The 64-year-old actor explained that he was concerned about raising their children in Los Angeles and within the culture of Hollywood, saying he did not want them to grow up worrying about paparazzi or being compared with other celebrities’ children.

Describing life in France, Clooney said the children are growing up away from the spotlight and living more normally. He noted that they are not constantly on electronic devices, share meals with adults and are expected to clear their own dishes, adding that they enjoy a much better quality of life.

It remains unclear whether Clooney has retained his American citizenship. Amal Clooney was born in Lebanon and raised in the United Kingdom, while the couple’s 8-year-old twins were born in London.

In recent media appearances while promoting the film “Jay Kelly,” Clooney said he is attempting to learn French using a language-learning app, though he described his progress as “horrible, horrible.” He added that his wife and children speak French fluently. Speaking to French broadcaster Canal+, he joked that they sometimes speak French in front of him so they can say unflattering things about him without his understanding.

French media have reported that the family lives part-time in an 18th-century luxury villa near the town of Brignoles in southern France, where they are able to maintain a low profile. French privacy laws also protect their children from unauthorised photography.

Brignoles Mayor Didier Brémond told broadcaster BFMTV on Tuesday that the Clooneys are “a very simple and very accessible family,” noting that Clooney shops locally and attended the opening of the town’s cinema. Their decision to become French citizens, the mayor said, reflected the actor’s affection for France. “Here, he wants to live normally, and that’s what he is trying to do,” Brémond said.

By Tamilla Hasanova