On January 15, 2026, George Clooney shared insights into how he and his wife Amal Clooney manage the challenges of parenting their eight-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, alongside their demanding careers. The actor acknowledged the ongoing effort required to maintain a balance between work and family life, highlighting their commitment to ensuring one parent is always at home with the children.
According to George, the couple carefully coordinates their schedules so that when he is away, Amal is home, and vice versa. He told E! News,
“You try to pace it so that I’m doing it, and then she’s home, and then she goes, and I’m home.”
We try to mix it up a little bit.
– George Clooney, Actor
The Reality of Parenting: Imperfect but Genuine
Despite their efforts, George emphasized that parenting is inherently imperfect, a sentiment he shared honestly. He reflected on how no parent can get everything right, including his own mother and father.
“But, you know, you’re never going to get it all right. No one does,”
he admitted.
He went on to say,
“My parents didn’t. I don’t know if your parents did, but you know, you go to work, too,”
before concluding with,
So, you do the best you can.
– George Clooney, Actor
Hopes for His Children’s Future Beyond Acting
George Clooney’s career began in 1984 when he played Ace on the sitcom E/R. Yet, he does not wish for Alexander and Ella to follow his footsteps into acting. The star, who is also a devoted father, expressed a preference for his children to pursue law careers, following in Amal’s footsteps rather than his.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, George remarked,
I don’t want them in it.
– George Clooney, Actor
He also revealed that the twins remain unaware of the specifics of his acting career, saying,
Well, they actually don’t know what I do for a living yet. No, not really.
– George Clooney, Actor
Discussing the possibility of his children becoming lawyers, he responded,
“I hope. My god, a lawyer? That’d be amazing.”
He also recalled a moment when his son dressed as Batman for Halloween, sharing,
And he was like, ‘Not really.’ And I was like, ‘You have no idea how right you are.’
– George Clooney, Actor
Family Life Away from Hollywood
George and Amal first met through a mutual friend in 2013 and were married a year later in a grand ceremony at the Aman Canal Grande resort in Venice, Italy. Currently, the couple resides full-time in France, where they purchased an estate in 2021 for $8.3 million. George has expressed how fortunate he feels to raise his twins far from the Hollywood spotlight.
He described life on their French farm as a beneficial environment for the children, contrasting it with his own childhood experience and concerns about raising kids amid celebrity culture in Los Angeles. In an interview with Esquire last month, he explained,
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.
– George Clooney, Actor
He admitted worrying about the effects of Hollywood life on his children’s upbringing, stating,
“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.”
Highlighting the contrasting mindset in France, he added,
I don’t want them being compared to somebody else’s famous kids.
– George Clooney, Actor
Choosing Privacy Over Fame for Their Children
George Clooney’s desire to shield Alexander and Ella from public scrutiny is clear. He appreciates living in a culture that does not emphasize fame or paparazzi, allowing the twins a more normal childhood. This decision reflects the couple’s effort to provide a grounded and private upbringing despite their high-profile lives in the entertainment and legal worlds.
Their approach to balancing family life, work, and privacy offers insight into the modern challenges faced by well-known parents and underlines the importance of creating a nurturing environment away from public pressure and media attention.
