Hollywood power couple George and Amal Clooney have officially been granted French citizenship, according to newly released government documents, as the actor continues his efforts to provide his family with a more private life away from the intense scrutiny of Hollywood.
The French government’s official gazette notice, published on Saturday, confirms that George Clooney, along with his wife Amal and their twin children Alexander and Ella, are now French citizens through naturalization.
This move comes as no surprise to those following the Clooney family’s lifestyle choices. The Academy Award-winning actor, who also maintains his U.S. citizenship, has been increasingly vocal about his preference for raising his children outside the Hollywood bubble. Meanwhile, Amal, a distinguished British-Lebanese humanitarian lawyer, brings her international legal expertise to their new status.
The family has deep roots in France, where they maintain their primary residence on a farm. While they also own properties in England and near George’s family in Kentucky, France has become their chosen home base. Speaking to the New York Times in February, George reflected on this ironic twist: “Growing up in Kentucky, all I wanted to do was get away from a farm, get away from that life. Now I find myself back in that life. I drive a tractor and all those things. It’s the best chance of a normal life.”
The decision appears to be primarily motivated by the couple’s desire to protect their children from the pressures of celebrity culture. In an October interview with Esquire, George was candid about his concerns: “I was worried about raising our kids in LA, in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life. France – they kind of don’t give a sh*t about fame.”
This sentiment reflects George’s ongoing commitment to his children’s privacy and well-being. He emphasized his desire for them to have normal childhoods: “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.”
The actor and director has consistently advocated for his family’s privacy rights. In 2021, he penned an open letter to media outlets requesting they refrain from publishing images of his children’s faces, citing safety concerns for the family.
France’s robust privacy protection laws likely played a significant role in the Clooney family’s decision. The country maintains strict regulations regarding photography and personal information disclosure. It’s illegal to photograph individuals in private spaces or publish personal details like home addresses and phone numbers. Additionally, publishing images of celebrities in public spaces is prohibited unless directly related to their professional duties.
The French legal system has proven effective in deterring paparazzi intrusion. According to litigation attorney Chassen Palmer, when photographers attempt to capture celebrities during their personal time, “the celebrity’s security or assistant will take a picture or video of the paparazzi.” This evidence is then forwarded to the celebrity’s legal team, and media outlets are warned that publication will result in civil damages claims. This system has “largely deterred taking photographs of celebrities out in public,” Palmer noted in a 2020 legal journal article.
With their new French citizenship, the Clooney family has secured not just legal protection but also the cultural environment George believes will give his children the best opportunity for a normal, private upbringing away from the relentless spotlight of Hollywood fame.
