George Clooney, Wife Amal, and Twins Get French Citizenship
Introduction to the Clooney Family’s New Status
George Clooney, wife Amal Clooney, and their 8-year-old twins are officially citizens of France, as of the day after Christmas. The news was reported by multiple French outlets as well as the Guardian, all citing an announcement published in a French government journal.
The Clooneys’ Life in France
The Clooneys bought property in France — a farm, he recently told Esquire — in August 2021, when their twins were 4. He said it was a “much better life” there for Ella and Alexander. “Yeah, we’re very lucky…. A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid I hated the whole idea of it. But now, for them, it’s like — they’re not on their iPads, you know?” he said in the interview, published in the magazine’s October/November issue.
Reasons for Choosing France
“I was worried about raising our kids in L. A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life. 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.” George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin in September 2014 in Venice, Italy.
The Clooneys’ French Residence
Domaine Le Canadel in France is, according to Hello, “an enchanting and sprawling 425-acre Provence wine estate” that cost the Clooneys a reported $8.3 million. It has a pool, tennis court, gardens, a lake, an olive grove, and a 25-acre vineyard, the outlet said. But, you know, it’s just a farm.
Other Celebrities in the Area
Other celebrity couples have put down roots in the area, of course, with less than charmed results over time. Then again, those folks weren’t French citizens, for the most part. Clooney’s remarks about the French attitude toward fame echoed previous comments made by Johnny Depp, who years ago found refuge in France for himself and his children, Jack and Lily-Rose, until he split in 2012 from longtime partner Vanessa Paradis, a French singer, model, and actor.
Johnny Depp’s Experience in France
The country “afforded [Depp] the possibility of living a normal life. Really a simple life,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor told SFGate in 2001. In 2010, Depp told People, “With Vanessa and the kids, we live in a sort of little village in the south and I have the impression of being in paradise… and you know what I do there? Absolutely nothing.”
Comparison with Other Celebrity Couples
Depp, who started dating his “The Rum Diary” co-star Amber Heard the year he broke up with Paradis, listed his Provence property for sale for almost $26 million in June 2015, then reportedly put it on the market again in the years that followed for more than twice the price. However, despite containing an entire village in its 37 acres, the property appears not to have sold. Heard and Depp married in 2015 but divorced two years later amid allegations of abuse. Of course, dueling defamation lawsuits followed. It got ugly.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Case
Meanwhile, Clooney’s buddy Brad Pitt and Pitt’s ex, Angelina Jolie, have been battling in court for years over the 2021 sale of her half of their Provence wine estate, Chateau Miraval, which actually produces wine. The former couple signed a long-term lease on the property in 2008 and later bought a controlling interest in the company that owned it. Pitt and Jolie married at Chateau Miraval in 2014 after meeting in 2004 on the set of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” when he was still married to Jennifer Aniston.
Conclusion
In conclusion, George Clooney, his wife Amal, and their twins have officially become French citizens, joining the ranks of other celebrities who have found solace in the French way of life. While their decision may have been influenced by the desire to give their children a more normal upbringing, away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, it is clear that France has a special place in the hearts of many celebrities.
FAQs
Q: When did George Clooney and his family become French citizens?
A: George Clooney, his wife Amal, and their twins became French citizens on the day after Christmas.
Q: Why did George Clooney choose to raise his children in France?
A: George Clooney chose to raise his children in France because he felt it would provide them with a more normal upbringing, away from the culture of Hollywood and the constant attention of paparazzi.
Q: What is the name of the Clooneys’ French residence?
A: The Clooneys’ French residence is called Domaine Le Canadel, a 425-acre Provence wine estate.
Q: Have other celebrities also found refuge in France?
A: Yes, other celebrities such as Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt have also found refuge in France, with some choosing to purchase properties and live there permanently.
