George Clooney Is Now a French Citizen
The French government has awarded citizenship to Hollywood actor George Clooney and his spouse, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, as per decrees issued over the weekend. The naturalization documents for the couple, along with their 8-year-old twins, were published by France’s Ministry of Justice. Born in Kentucky, Mr. Clooney also retains his U.S. citizenship, which is permissible under French law. At 64 years old, he has praised French culture, noting that the country’s privacy laws allow him and his family to lead a more serene lifestyle. In an interview with RTL, a French broadcaster, earlier this month, Mr. Clooney shared that his family discovered a farmhouse in France that stole their hearts. “Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi lurking at the school gates. That’s No. 1 for us,” he remarked. “We also have a residence in the United States, but our happiest spot is on this farm where the kids can enjoy themselves.” In a conversation with Esquire magazine published in October, he mentioned that his family “resides on a farm in France,” describing features of the property that include 100 acres of vineyards, 1,200 olive trees, and a vegetable garden. French media outlets reported that the Clooneys acquired the home, situated on a vineyard near Brignoles in the Provence region, in 2021 for around $10 million. In July of that year, the mayor of Brignoles, Didier Brémond, shared a photo on social media depicting his meeting with the couple at their new residence. Last year, Mr. Clooney recorded a New Year’s video message expressing gratitude to Mr. Brémond and local citizens for their warm reception. His timing for acquiring citizenship may prove advantageous: starting next year, the French government plans to increase the language criteria for foreigners seeking residency and naturalization. Mr. Clooney mentioned to RTL that he was working on learning French through the language app Duolingo but admitted that it was challenging at his age. “My French is horrible,” he said last year, delivering the line with a pronounced French accent as he arrived at the opening of a movie theater in Brignoles. Additionally, Mr. Clooney possesses a villa on Lake Como, nestled in the Italian Alps. His extensive film career includes a variety of genres, including comedies, dramas, and thrillers. He has earned numerous accolades, including an Oscar in 2006 for his performance in “Syriana” and another as co-producer of the 2013 film “Argo.” In his latest project, Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” Mr. Clooney portrays an aging American movie star striving to find himself once again. Appropriately, his character embarks on a train journey from Paris to Tuscany in Italy. Meanwhile, Ms. Clooney, 47, who is of British and Lebanese descent, works as a barrister in London focusing on international and human rights law, representing victims of mass atrocities before the International Court of Justice. Last year, she stated that she had been part of a panel that recommended the International Criminal Court issue arrest warrants for leaders of Israel and the Hamas militant group.
Published: 2025-12-30 23:03:00
source: www.nytimes.com
