Why George Clooney & Amal Left Hollywood to Raise Their Twins on a Farm in France

George Clooney is being candid about why he chose to step away from Hollywood life to raise his family in a quieter setting. In a new interview with Esquire, the Oscar-winning actor revealed that he and his wife, Amal, decided to settle in France so their twins could enjoy a more grounded, normal upbringing.

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“I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood,” Clooney said. “I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life,” he added, explaining why he and Amal decided to move their family abroad.

“France — they kind of don’t give a s— about fame,” he continued. “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.”

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Inside Clooney’s Life on a Farm in France

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Clooney, 63, and his wife, Amal, now live with their 8-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander, on a farm in France. “Yeah, we’re very lucky. You know, we live on a farm in France,” he said. “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.”

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The actor, who grew up in Kentucky, added that life has come full circle. “Growing up in Kentucky, all I wanted to do was get away from a farm,” he told The New York Times. “Now I find myself back in that life. I drive a tractor and all those things.”

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Amal has also spoken about the couple’s efforts to shield their children from public attention. “Creating private moments and spaces is becoming increasingly difficult,” she told Glamour. “But that’s also why we entertain a lot at home. I now have a phone basket that I use to take everyone’s phones away!”

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She added, “We don’t put our children out there; we’ve never put their photo out there or anything like that.”

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A Quieter Life, But Still in the Spotlight

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Even while embracing a quieter life, Clooney continues to balance family with his career. This year, he wrapped his Tony-nominated Broadway run in “Good Night and Good Luck” and starred in Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Reflecting on the shift from fame to fatherhood, Clooney summed it up simply: “They have a much better life,” he said. “And that’s what matters.”

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