George Clooney and Amal relocate family from LA to a French farm

George Clooney says he and his wife, Amal, moved their family from Los Angeles to a farm in France to give their eight year old twins a quieter, more ordinary upbringing away from the attention of Hollywood. In a recent interview, the actor described life on the rural estate as deliberately structured to limit screen time, encourage family meals and chores, and reduce exposure to paparazzi and comparisons with other celebrity children.

Clooney said his decision was driven by concern that raising children in the culture of Los Angeles would compromise their chances of a normal life. "I was worried about raising our kids in L.A., in the culture of Hollywood. I felt like they were never going to get a fair shake at life," he said. He added that in France people are less focused on fame and that his children are not constantly on their iPads, noting they eat with adults and help clear the table.

The couple, who married in 2014 and welcomed twins Ella and Alexander in 2017, have kept much of their family life private. Amal Clooney, a human rights lawyer, has said protecting the children’s privacy is a primary concern; she has declined to publish images of them and described efforts...