PARIS, December 30, 2025 — Hollywood actor George Clooney, his wife Amal Clooney, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, and their eight-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, have officially been granted French citizenship, French government records show.
The naturalisations of one of the world’s best-known families were formalised through decrees published in France’s Journal Officiel, the official government gazette for legal notices.
The move comes as the Clooneys continue to divide their time between France — where they own a rural estate — and their other homes abroad, seeking greater privacy and a quieter environment in which to raise their children away from the constant glare of Hollywood fame.
Official Confirmation of Citizenship
French citizenship was conferred on Clooney, Amal Clooney, and their children via documents issued late last week and published in Journal Officiel, the official French government publication that lists new naturalisations.
Under French law, individuals can retain foreign citizenship even after naturalisation, meaning Clooney is expected to continue to hold dual U.S. and French nationality.
Amal Clooney, a prominent human rights attorney, was listed under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin, while George Clooney’s official record noted his full name, including his middle name, Timothy.
A Personal Decision With Broader Implications
The decision to become French citizens reflects both personal and practical considerations for the Clooney family. In interviews earlier this month, George Clooney emphasised the importance of privacy and normalcy for his children as a significant factor behind the family’s choice.
Speaking to French broadcaster RTL, Clooney said that, in contrast to life in Los Angeles, French privacy laws prevent paparazzi from photographing children or harassing families near schools — a reality he called “number one” for the family.
“We find that our kids have a much better life here,” Clooney said, noting that in France his children help with everyday household tasks and spend time away from screens and intense media exposure — a stark contrast to the celebrity culture of Hollywood.
Roots in France: A Home and a Lifestyle
The Clooneys’ connection to France goes back years. In 2021, the couple purchased Domaine du Canadel, a sprawling former wine estate near Brignoles in southern France’s Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. The property sits amid rolling vineyards and open countryside — the kind of setting Clooney has described as the happiest place for his family.
The property includes extensive outdoor spaces where the twins can play and explore — a lifestyle Clooney has praised as affording them the “much better life” he sought for his children, compared with the glare and pressure of life near Hollywood or other entertainment hubs.
Clooney has also highlighted his ongoing — and sometimes humorous — effort to learn French, including more than 400 days of study, even as he jokes that mastering a new language at age 64 has its challenges.
Why France? Privacy Laws and Family Priorities
At the heart of the decision to naturalise in France are the country’s stringent privacy laws, which offer protections not found in many other countries, including the United States. French legislation restricts the publication of images of minors without consent and prohibits intrusive paparazzi tactics, particularly near schools and in residential areas.
Clooney’s comments in interviews have focused repeatedly on this point: he and Amal prioritised a setting where their children could grow up with ordinary childhood experiences — from interacting with family and friends without constant cameras to engaging in everyday chores around their French home.
For celebrities and public figures, the legal protections and cultural norms in France represent a contrast to the more permissive media environment in the United States, especially in areas like Los Angeles, where paparazzi culture remains a fixture of everyday life.
A Transnational Life: Homes and Identities
Although French citizenship is new, the Clooneys’ international lifestyle is not. Beyond their vineyard estate in Provence, the couple also owns homes in England and Italy, and maintains property ties in New York and the United States.
Even before their move to France, their lives straddled continents, shaped by careers and commitments that brought them into frequent contact with European culture and life.
Amal Clooney, who holds British and Lebanese citizenship, brings a global legal profile to the family dynamic as well. Her fluency in French and extensive international work add depth to the family’s connection to Europe.
The choice to naturalise in France appears to be the culmination of years of living and working across borders, yet with a particular emphasis on creating a sense of home and normalcy for their children — priorities shared by many expatriates who seek out dual citizenship.
Public Reaction and Cultural Context
The announcement reverberated on social media and in public discourse. Many observers noted the contrast between Clooney’s decades of Hollywood fame and his choice of a French rural life for his family — a shift that underscores the appeal of European privacy norms and cultural protections for families.
Comments from online communities ranged from admiration of the family’s privacy focus to broader conversations about the meaning of fame, citizenship and identity in a globalised world.
In some corners of the internet, users debated how naturalisation procedures work and whether the Clooneys’ wealth and lifestyle facilitated an easier path to citizenship — a discussion that mirrored broader debates about mobility, privilege, and access in a world where affluent individuals can often navigate multiple national identities with relative ease.
Cultural and Legal Significance
The Clooney family’s naturalisation highlights a broader trend of prominent figures seeking citizenship outside their country of birth for reasons beyond economic incentives. In the Clooneys’ case, it speaks to deeply human motivations — parental concern, cultural affinity, and the desire for a grounded family life rather than purely legal or financial strategy.
According to French law, dual citizenship is permitted, allowing individuals to maintain their original national citizenship while acquiring French nationality. This legal framework supports the Clooneys’ international lifestyles without forcing them to renounce ties to their countries of origin.
This development may also set an interesting precedent in celebrity culture, where highly visible figures increasingly seek out legal environments that balance public life with private family concerns — from tax considerations to privacy autonomy.
What Clooney Himself Has Said
Clooney’s earlier interviews this month laid the groundwork for understanding the family’s decision. In a December 2 interview on RTL radio, he explained that living in France gives his children a chance at a culturally rich yet private upbringing, away from intrusive media.
He reflected on the difference between life in Los Angeles and Provence, noting that in France, his twins are encouraged to participate in everyday life and engage with the local community — even at the expense of Hollywood glamour or celebrity privilege.
Clooney has also talked about the couple’s broader emotional connection to France and its culture, citing both the lifestyle and the legal protections that come with French nationality as key elements of their family strategy.
Global Implications and Trends
While the Clooneys represent a particularly high-profile family acquiring dual nationality, their story touches on a broader global narrative: many families — especially those with international careers or public profiles — are seeking citizenship in countries that offer privacy, safety, legal protections, and lifestyle advantages.
Clooney’s candid explanation of living without paparazzi at the school gates speaks to a universal concern among parents, even as it reflects an unusual level of celebrity influence drilled down to an everyday parental desire.
As global mobility increases, dual citizenship is becoming more common among professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, and others whose work crosses borders. In this context, the Clooneys’ newest nationality adds to a trend of families seeking legal ties that align with their personal values and long-term plans.
Conclusion
The granting of French citizenship to George Clooney, Amal Clooney, and their children represents a deeply personal decision rooted in family priorities — especially privacy, cultural preference, and a desire to give their children a childhood less defined by fame.
But it also reflects wider societal trends in which global citizens — including public figures — embrace multiple national identities that can offer legal protection, social stability, and personal fulfilment.
For the Clooneys, France is not merely a second passport. It is home, community, and a place where they believe their children can grow up grounded, safe, and more removed from the glare that shaped their parents’ early years in public life.
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