George Clooney, the renowned actor known for his versatile roles in television and movies, has always been captivated by his wife, Amal Clooney. In 2022, during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he expressed his admiration for her, stating, “Everything about my wife is sort of magical, as I think everybody has come to realize as they see her and hear her and hear what she stands for. There’s just not a downside to her.”
But let’s take a step back and look at George Clooney’s illustrious career. Some might remember him as the young handyman in the popular sitcom The Facts of Life that aired from 1979 to 1988. In recent years, he has graced the big screen with his presence in movies such as Ticket to Paradise, Ocean’s Eleven, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2022).
However, his biggest role was yet to come when he met Amal Alamuddin, a Lebanese-British human rights attorney, in 2013. The couple’s love story unfolded at a rapid pace, with a proposal just six months into their relationship. George recalls the moment of the proposal, saying, “Literally, I dropped it on her, and she just kept saying, ‘Oh, my God,’ and ‘Wow!’ We just sat there, and finally I said, ‘Listen, I’m 52, and I’ve been on my knee now for about 28 minutes, so I have to get an answer out of this or I’m going to throw a hip out. I might not be able to stand back up!’”
The couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at the opulent Aman Canal Grande hotel in Venice, Italy in September 2014. Their star-studded guest list included the likes of Bono, Matt Damon, and Bill Murray, among others.
Amal’s entrance into George’s life also meant facing the scrutiny of online trolls. Despite being a highly accomplished human rights lawyer, she received harsh criticism solely based on her appearance. Social media users made derogatory comments about her looks, completely disregarding her achievements. However, some came to her defense, recognizing her expertise and dismissing the importance of her fashion choices.
Unfortunately, even prominent news organizations failed to acknowledge Amal’s accomplishments. In 2015, the Associated Press referred to her as “actor’s wife” when she was representing an Al-Jazeera journalist in Egypt. The backlash from the public led to a revision of the article, highlighting her role as a human rights lawyer.
Amal has gracefully handled the increased public attention and criticism. In a cover feature for Time magazine’s Women of the Year in March 2022, she shared her approach, saying, “In terms of an increased public profile, I think all I can do is try to turn the spotlight to what is important. That can benefit some clients. If I am at a work function and reporting of it focuses on irrelevant issues, there’s not much I can do about that. Since I can’t control it, my approach is just not to dwell on it and just get on with my work and my life and hope that attitudes will catch up.”
Through it all, George remains in awe of his wife and her many talents. He admires her stunning beauty and impeccable sense of style, remarking that she effortlessly looks amazing even while juggling multiple cases. The couple, now parents to twin daughters, Alexander and Ella, spends their time at their waterfront Villa Oleandra in Lake Como, where their love story first began.
Reflecting on his life, George said, “Every single day of my life, I just feel lucky. Lucky in my career. Lucky enough to have found the perfect partner. Sometimes in life, it doesn’t happen on your schedule, but you find the person that you were always supposed to be with. That’s how I feel, and I know that’s how Amal feels.”
Indeed, George and Amal’s union is a fortunate and inspiring one. What are your thoughts on this power couple?
