George Clooney Moved Family to French Farm to Shield Kids from Hollywood Fame

George Clooney has shared why he chose to raise his children far from Hollywood, telling Esquire magazine that moving his family to a farm in France was all about giving them a normal life.

Clooney, who became a father to twins Ella and Alexander in 2017 with his wife Amal Alamuddin, explained that the culture of fame in Los Angeles simply wasn’t right for his kids.

“Yeah, we’re very lucky. You know, we live on a farm in France,” Clooney said. “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? They have dinner with grown-ups and have to take their dishes in. They have a much better life.”

The actor added that Hollywood’s obsession with fame and comparison worried him as a parent. “I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood,” Clooney continued.

“I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life. France — they kind of don’t give a shit 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 and Alamuddin, a British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, have been married since 2014. The couple bonded over shared interests in activism, including work on the Elgin Marbles issue. Over the years, they have built a quiet life in France with their twins and even adopted a rescue dog named Millie.

In interviews on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Graham Norton’s show, Clooney revealed that his twins can speak Italian fluently, even though neither he nor Amal speak the language themselves.

Raising his family on a farm allows Clooney to provide them with a childhood far removed from the pressures of Hollywood. He explained to Esquire that it’s about giving them space to grow without being constantly measured against fame.

It’s inspiring to see a celebrity prioritize normalcy for their kids over the glitz of Hollywood. What do you think about celebrities moving away from fame for their children? Share your thoughts in the comments.