Paris – Call them Monsieur and Madame Clooney.
The French government says George Clooney, his wife Amal and their eight-year-old twins Ella and Alexander have received French citizenship.
The naturalization of the Kentucky-born star and his family was announced over the weekend in the Journal Officiel, which publishes French government regulations.
The government notice indicated that human rights lawyer Amal Clooney had been naturalized under her maiden name, Amal Alamuddin. It is also noted that George Clooney's middle name is Timothy.
Maja Smajkowska / REUTERS
The couple purchased an estate in France in 2021. In an interview with Esquire in October, Clooney described his “farm in France” as his primary residence, a decision the 64-year-old actor and his 47-year-old wife made with their children in mind.
“I was worried about raising our kids in Los Angeles, in the Hollywood culture,” he told the magazine. “I don’t want them to worry about the paparazzi. I don't want them to be compared to anyone's famous kids.”
Growing up out of the spotlight in France, “they don’t use iPads, you know?” – he said. “They have dinner with adults and they have to take the dishes away. They have a much better life.”
Representatives for George Clooney did not respond to The Associated Press' request for comment Monday.
It is unclear whether Clooney has retained his American citizenship. Amal Clooney was born in Lebanon and raised in the UK. They were born in London.
In early December, George Clooney told French radio network RTL (in English): “I love French culture, your language, even though after 400 days of courses I am still bad at it,” according to French news agency AFP.
Clooney owns an estate in Italy's Lake Como region, and he and Amal bought a historic estate in England, AFP reports, adding that they also own an apartment in New York and property in Kentucky.
But he told RTL that his family's French home “is where we are happiest,” AFP notes.
