PARIS — Actor George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney were received French citizenship because “with their outstanding actions they contribute to France's international influence and its cultural development,” the French government said Wednesday, defending their naturalization, which had been questioned by a junior French minister.
Naturalization of Kentucky-born “Ocean's” heist star, his wife and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, and their twins Ella and Alexandra were announced over the weekend in the Journal Officiel, which publishes French government regulations.
Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a junior minister at the Interior Ministry, expressed fears on Wednesday that some of Clooney's new French compatriots might think the star couple were getting special treatment. The actor speaks only what he calls “terrible, terrible” French.
“The message being sent is not good,” Vedrenne told broadcaster France Info. “There is an issue of fairness that I think is absolutely important.”
The couple purchased an estate in France in 2021, and Clooney said this is their primary residence. Non-French residents of France have several possible routes to naturalization. It is unclear whether the 64-year-old actor retains his American citizenship. His wife, 47, was born in Lebanon, raised in Britain and naturalized in France under her maiden name Amal Alamuddin. 8-year-old twins were born in London.
The Foreign Office said the Clooneys are eligible for citizenship under French law, which allows for the naturalization of foreign citizens who contribute to France's international influence and economic well-being.
It argues that the French film industry will benefit from the actor's influence as a global film star, and says that as a lawyer, Amal Clooney regularly collaborates with academic institutions and international organizations in France.
“They maintain strong personal, professional and family ties to our country,” the ministry said.
“Like many French citizens, we are delighted to welcome Georges and Amal Clooney to the national community,” the publication concluded, giving the actor’s name a French twist by adding an “s” at the end.
The decision was also supported by Vedrenné's boss at the Interior Ministry, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who said he had signed the naturalization decree.
“This is a great opportunity for our country,” he said.
In recent media interviews when he was promoting “Jay Kelly” Clooney said he is trying to learn French on his own using a language learning app. He said that his wife and children speak the language perfectly.
“They speak French in front of me so they can say terrible things about me to my face, but I don’t know,” he joked, referring to the French language. TV company Kanal+.
French media reported that the Clooneys live part-time in their luxury 18th-century villa near the southern French town of Brignoles, where they can keep a low profile and their children are protected from unauthorized photography by French privacy laws.
In an October interview with Esquire, Clooney said, “I was worried about raising our kids in Los Angeles, in the Hollywood culture.”
“I don't want them to worry about the paparazzi. I don't want them to be compared to anyone's famous kids,” he said. Growing up away from the limelight in France, “they have dinner with adults and have to take the dishes away. They have a much better life.”
