George Clooney’s French Farm Life: A Contrast to Hollywood’s Glitz

By Zoe Papadakis | Wednesday, 08 October 2025 01:34 PM EDT
George Clooney has shared insights into his decision to raise his children in rural France, asserting that it offers them “a much better life” compared to the environment of Los Angeles. During an interview with Esquire, the 64-year-old actor described how living on a family farm in France keeps his twins, Alexander and Ella Clooney, 8, grounded and removed from Hollywood’s public eye.

Clooney reflected on his own upbringing, noting that while he initially disliked life on a farm as a child, he now sees its benefits for his children. “They’re not on their iPads,” he said. “They have dinner with adults and must clean up their dishes. They have a much better life.” The actor emphasized that he and his wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, deliberately chose to raise their children outside the entertainment industry’s influence.

“I was concerned about raising our kids in L.A., within Hollywood’s culture,” Clooney explained. “I felt they’d never get a fair shot at life. France—people don’t care about fame.” He added that he wants his children free from the pressures of paparazzi scrutiny or comparisons to other celebrity offspring.

Amal Clooney has recently drawn attention for her involvement with the International Criminal Court (ICC). In April 2025, she and senior ICC legal advisors received warnings from the U.K. Foreign Office about potential U.S. sanctions under an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump. The order targeted ICC officials linked to investigations Washington opposed, including a November 2024 arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged Gaza war crimes.

Clooney has not publicly addressed his wife’s legal work but told CNN’s Anderson Cooper earlier this year, “My wife spent two years in a bunker fighting Hezbollah. She’s the only person to put ISIS on trial.” He praised her bravery, stating, “We have other issues besides worrying about an American administration saying unkind things about us.”

At the time, Clooney was promoting a Broadway revival of his 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck, which he admitted was more stressful than anticipated. “As you age, it doesn’t matter how many granola bars you eat; your brain starts to lock up,” he said. He described rehearsing the entire play in his dressing room before each performance to avoid mistakes. “I was so terrified,” he added.

Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has worked as a reporter, writer, and editor for newspapers, magazines, and websites.