PARIS, December 31 (TNF): Hollywood actor George Clooney, his wife Amal Clooney, and their twin children have officially been granted French citizenship, according to government records published at the end of the year. The development was confirmed through France’s Journal Officiel, the official gazette that records state decrees and legal decisions.
The announcement marks a significant personal step for the Clooney family, which has increasingly made France its home in recent years. According to the published decree, the actor, his internationally renowned human rights lawyer wife, and their two children are now French nationals.
The family has been residing primarily at their farm estate in Brignoles, a quiet town in southern France. The couple purchased the property in 2021 and have since spent much of their time there, away from the glare of Hollywood and major media hubs. Local officials have often spoken about the family’s low-profile lifestyle in the area.
Didier Brémond, the mayor of Brignoles, welcomed the news and described the family as modest and approachable. Speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV, he said Clooney’s decision reflected a genuine attachment to France rather than a symbolic gesture. He added that the family lives like ordinary residents and values privacy and simplicity.
“He wants to live normally here, and that is exactly what he is doing,” the mayor said, according to French media.
George Clooney has previously spoken openly about why he and his wife chose to relocate their family to France. In an interview with Esquire magazine earlier this year, the actor said concerns about raising children in Los Angeles played a key role in their decision.
He said he wanted to protect his children from the pressures of celebrity culture. He also expressed discomfort with constant media attention and paparazzi activity in Hollywood. Clooney said he did not want his children to grow up under public scrutiny or be compared with other celebrity families.
“I was worried about raising our kids in LA, in the culture of Hollywood,” he told the magazine. He added that he wanted his children to experience a more grounded and private upbringing.
Life on a French farm, he said, has offered that balance. Clooney described a childhood contrast of his own, recalling that he once disliked farm life while growing up. He now sees it as a gift for his children.
He said the twins spend less time on screens and more time interacting with adults and nature. They share family meals, follow routines, and take part in daily responsibilities. Clooney said the lifestyle has given them a healthier and more balanced childhood.
In addition to their French residence, Clooney owns properties in the United Kingdom and in Kentucky, his home state in the United States. Despite these international ties, France appears to have become the family’s emotional and practical base.
The Clooneys’ twins, Ella and Alexander, were born in London in 2017. Amal Clooney was born in Lebanon and raised in the United Kingdom. Her professional work has taken her across the world, representing clients in major human rights cases and international courts.
French records show that Amal Clooney was naturalized under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin. The process follows French legal procedures, which allow citizenship through residency and integration.
Language, according to Clooney, has not been a challenge for the rest of the family. In recent interviews promoting his upcoming film Jay Kelly, the actor said his wife and children speak fluent French.
He described their command of the language as perfect. He admitted, however, that his own French remains weak despite efforts to improve it.
Speaking humorously to French broadcaster Canal+, Clooney said his family often speaks French around him. He joked that they sometimes do so to tease him without him understanding.
“They speak French in front of me so they can say terrible things about me, and I don’t know,” he said with a laugh.
The Clooney family’s decision comes at a time when France continues to attract high-profile international residents seeking privacy, stability, and cultural depth. For the Clooneys, citizenship appears to be a reflection of long-term commitment rather than convenience.
The news was first reported through France’s official government records and confirmed by local authorities, according to French and international media.
English