George Clooney’s private life: Amal’s marriage, children, fatherhood
George Clooney felt the love at the Sala Grande theater on September 1 after the premiere of his new film, Wolfenat the Venice Film Festival. During a four-minute standing ovation, the smiling actor clapped and shared a heartfelt hug with his co-star and longtime friend, Brad Pittbefore the pair danced playfully to Sade’s “Smooth Operator.”
The display was just one of many highlights of George’s visit to Venice with his wife, Amal. Before the Wolfen during the screening, he and the 46-year-old human rights lawyer – who will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on September 27 – enjoyed a double date at Ristorante da Ivo with Pitt and his girlfriend, Ines de Ramonwhere George posed as a waiter and posed for photos with staffers from the Italian eatery. Later, on the red carpet, the actor sweetly helped a photographer who had fallen to the ground, then sat down with a group of delighted paparazzo members and tinkered with one of their cameras.
On September 3, George and Amal left Venice in a water taxi, leaving the marching band behind and returning to their quiet life in France with their 7-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander. At 63, it’s clear that George has found his sweet spot, balancing his career – which is still going strong after 40 years – with family time at home alongside Amal and the kids.
“George loves where he is in life,” a source shares exclusively in the latest issue of We weekly. “He enjoys what he does and has no plans to retire, but he also knows there are more important things in the world than making movies.”
Protect their peace
The Kentucky-born actor has been one of the most famous people in the world for decades, but he’s never been completely comfortable with superstardom or the attention he receives. “A lot of people – even those who reach quite a high level of fame – find a way to be able to live a normal life, to be able to walk the streets of New York without being followed and things like that,” he recently said. GQ magazine, as part of a joint cover story with Pitt. “And there’s, I don’t know, five or six of us where it just never went away. And there’s never been anything like, ‘Hey, let’s take a walk through Central Park and not get hammered.’ It just hasn’t happened yet.”
Privacy is of the utmost importance to him and Amal. “We have to work hard at it [it]” he said. It’s partly why they moved to the South of France in 2021. (Their sprawling $8.3 million 18th-century estate is just a few miles from Pitt’s Château Miraval.)
“The property is magical,” says the source. “They have hundreds of hectares, a vineyard and olive trees, and the children can be outside and completely protected. There is a small village nearby with shops. It’s a very simple life, and George loves it.”
Living the dream
Settling down with Amal transformed the A-lister, who was considered Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor for years before meeting her through a mutual friend in 2013. “All I know is that it changed everything in terms of what I thought my future was – my personal future would be,” he admitted.
A second source says Us that George “wasn’t really interested” in settling down before meeting Amal. “He had a great career, great friends and felt very fulfilled. [But] as soon as he fell in love with Amal, George [realized] how much he missed.” Adds a third source: “George didn’t think he would ever meet someone like Amal. He is completely in love with her. She is so intelligent, a great conversationalist and everyone loves her.”
The first source tells Us the Clooneys “are one of the most stable couples in Hollywood. They have a deep respect for each other and do not suffocate each other; they have each maintained their own careers and there is no jealousy or codependency. It is a very healthy collaboration.” Adds the second source, “They always make it a point to keep an open line of communication when they can’t be together and ensure they are both equally present for their children as often as possible.” (In a 2022 interview with CBS, George revealed that he and Amal “never had a fight.”)
Fairytale romance! George Clooney finally met his match in the stunning, talented human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin. The two got married in an Italian fantasy wedding and are living a charmed life together – see photos of the happy couple!
George is a hands-on father to Ella and Alexander. In 2021, the Gravity star opened up about how he and Amal chose not to have a full-time nanny for the kids, saying, “We don’t do that because it’s so important to Amal [to be involved],” adding that it was tough being home alone with the twins during the pandemic. “I felt like my mother in 1964,” he joked, “washing dishes and doing laundry six times a day.” The first source says that life in the Clooney household is fun. (George is a famous prankster and has said that he teaches his children to follow in his footsteps.) “George is a loving and playful father. He’s always joking, and Amal is just as quick. There is a lot of laughter.”
The couple goes on date nights whenever they can, and recently went out for dinner at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, Italy, where they also own a villa. They also enjoy entertaining at home. “Amal and George are known for hosting fantastic dinner parties that last until the wee hours,” the source says, noting that they will likely take a break to celebrate their upcoming anniversary. Adds the third source: “George has always been a romantic and makes grand gestures, including planning trips.”
He stays close to his Ocean Elf costars, including Pitt, Julia Roberts And Matt Damon. “There aren’t many people George can identify with,” the first source said. “Julia and Brad are on the same page.” In the GQ article, George and Pitt confirmed that they are indeed tight. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” George said. “And it’s nice because we also visit each other every now and then, which is an important part of that. Things get complicated in life, and you always have to make sure everyone is doing well.”
Looking ahead
Acclaimed director and producer: he won an Academy Award for co-production in 2012 Argo – plans to focus mainly on acting in the near future. “The main reason is that I’m a year away from directing, and my kids are a certain age now,” he noted. “We are not going to take our children out of school.”
He will appear in an upcoming untitled film Noah Baumbach filming with Adam Sandler and in September 2025 he will star Good night and good luck on Broadway. (He directed the film version in 2005.) But he doesn’t want to take on anything else.
Proud parents! Since welcoming twins Alexander and Ella in June 2017, George Clooney and Amal Clooney have spoken candidly about their children several times. Much to fans’ delight, the A-list couple isn’t afraid to share all the details about life as a family of four. First the Up in the Air actor and the human rights lawyer […]
“I’m going to give myself time with my kids,” he said GQ. “I really enjoy taking them to school, and my wife and I have a great time. So I don’t want to lose all that. We still try to do things and new things, but we also say, “Let’s also remember that we also want to see our lives in a fun way.” A little bit of both. Everything in moderation.”
His priorities are in order. These days, George “wants to spend more time with his family. He’s lucky [that he doesn’t] must worry so much about his work,” says the third source, noting that Amal is committed when it comes to his career. “Everything is a family decision.” Although the star still looks and feels great, “he doesn’t deny that he’s getting older,” says the first source. “He is sentimental about the good years he has left with his children and his wife – and he lets that guide his actions.”
For more information about george, watch the exclusive video above and the last issue of We weekly – on newsstands now.
With reporting by Sarah Jones & Andrea Simpson
