• George Clooney, wife Amal and 8-year-old twins receive French citizenship per government decree
• Kentucky-born actor retains U.S. citizenship as French law allows dual nationality
• Clooney praised French privacy laws that prevent paparazzi from photographing children at school

PARIS, FRANCE (TDR) — France has granted citizenship to Hollywood star George Clooney and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, according to government decrees issued over the weekend. The orders of naturalization for the couple and their 8-year-old twins came in documents published by France’s Ministry of Justice in the Journal Officiel.

Clooney, 64, who was born in Kentucky, retains U.S. citizenship, which French law allows. Amal Clooney was naturalized under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin, according to the government notice. The British-Lebanese lawyer speaks fluent French, while George admits his language skills remain “horrible” despite 400 days of courses.

Privacy Laws Drew Clooneys to France

In an interview with French broadcaster RTL earlier this month, George Clooney praised French culture and said that French privacy laws enabled him and his family to pursue a quieter existence. The actor said his family had found a farmhouse in France that they loved.

“Here, they don’t take photos of kids. There aren’t any paparazzi hidden at the school gates. That’s number one for us,” Clooney told RTL Radio. “I love the French culture, your language, even if I’m still bad at it after 400 days of courses.”

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France has strict privacy protection laws making it illegal to photograph someone in a private place or disclose personal information like home addresses. It’s also illegal to publish pictures of celebrities in public places unless that appearance is related to their position as public figures. The country strengthened its anti-paparazzi laws in 2000, three years after Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris while evading photographers.

The Clooneys purchased the Domaine du Canadel, a former wine estate near the village of Brignoles in southern France, in 2021. In an October interview with Esquire, Clooney described their French farm as their primary residence, a decision made with their children Ella and Alexander in mind.

Farm Life Keeps Children Grounded

During his Esquire interview, Clooney opened up about why they chose to move his family to the French countryside away from Hollywood’s glitz.

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“They have a much better life,” the two-time Oscar winner said about keeping his children out of the spotlight. “France – they kind of don’t give a s— about fame. 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.”

Clooney said farm life provides grounding for Ella and Alexander. “A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid, I hated the whole idea of it,” he told Esquire. “But now, for [the twins], it’s like—they’re not on their iPads, you know? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in.”

The actor told The New York Times in February that 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.”

Extensive International Property Portfolio

Beyond their French estate, the Clooneys maintain an extensive international property portfolio. George owns an estate in Italy’s Lake Como region purchased in 2002, and the couple bought a historic manor in England. They also own a New York apartment and property in Kentucky but have reportedly sold homes in Los Angeles and Mexico over the past decade.

Brignoles Mayor Didier Brémond told broadcaster BFMTV that the Clooneys are “a very simple and very accessible family.” He noted the actor shops in town and attended the opening of its cinema. Their decision to become French citizens testified to “his love for our country,” the mayor said.

Part of Growing American Exodus

The Clooneys join a growing number of American entertainment figures seeking French citizenship. Director Jim Jarmusch, whose latest feature Father Mother Sister Brother won the Venice International Film Festival, told France Inter radio Friday that he also plans to apply for French citizenship.

“I would like a place that will allow me to escape from the United States,” Jarmusch said. Other American celebrities including Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres have taken up permanent residences in other countries. Actress Angelina Jolie is reportedly looking to leave when her youngest twins turn 18 in July.

The two-time Oscar winner has long been vocal about privacy concerns surrounding his family. In 2021, Clooney wrote an open letter urging media to keep his children’s faces out of the press for their safety. He has two Oscars for best supporting actor in 2006’s Syriana and as producer on 2012’s Argo.

Clooney’s European Connections

Clooney’s attachment to Europe pre-dates his 2014 marriage to Amal. The actor has maintained strong ties to the continent throughout his career and actively participated in calling out media’s role in Princess Diana’s death when he was starring in Batman & Robin in 1997. He held a fiery press conference to hold media accountable for the princess’s death.

Representatives for George Clooney did not respond to media requests for comment. The French government’s Interior Ministry also did not immediately respond to questions about the Clooneys’ new citizenship.

Clooney recently promoted his film Jay Kelly and will appear in Netflix’s highly-anticipated Call My Agent! movie next year, featuring numerous guest stars in the feature-length reboot. He told media he is trying to teach himself French using a language-learning app but says his wife and children speak the language perfectly.

Will more American celebrities follow the Clooneys’ path to France as privacy concerns and Hollywood culture drive families toward countries with stricter paparazzi protections?

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