George Clooney is getting a first glimpse of the challenges ahead as a parent of twins. The actor, 64, shared candidly during a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce that his 8-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, “still dig” him, though he knows that may not last much longer.
“I got 8-year-olds, and they still dig me, you know?” Clooney said. He added with a laugh, “That’s gonna change, as you know.” Jason Kelce, a dad of four, chimed in, “Teenage years are coming.”
Clooney elaborated on his daughter’s newfound independence. “Even at [8 years old], I’ve got, like, my daughter rolling her eyes now, which is a new thing,” he explained. “Like, I’d say, like, ‘Hey, you know, your dad’s a big star,’ and she just rolls her eyes.”
The Oscar winner also shared humorous anecdotes about parenting, including the day his daughter picked up one of his expletives. “I was in the car driving to school the other day, and some guy cut me off, and I was like, ‘F--king a--hole!’” he recalled. “And I’m driving, and about five minutes later, in the backseat, I hear, ‘F--king a--hole!’ from my 8-year-old. And you know they’re going to say that, and my wife’s going to hear it, and then I’m dead.”
Despite the challenges, Clooney says his twins are well-behaved and that parenting is “a pretty funny adventure.” “You don’t realize how much they’re listening to you,” he added.
Clooney and his wife, human rights attorney Amal Clooney, 47, are careful to balance their high-profile careers with family life. Speaking with E! News at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Jay Kelly,' he explained how they coordinate schedules so one parent is always available for the children.
“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,” he said. “You’re never gonna get it all right, no one does, but you gotta go to work too, so you do the best you can.”
The couple married in Italy in 2014 and welcomed their twins in June 2017. Even with busy careers, they maintain a strong focus on family privacy. Amal recently told Glamour that when guests come over, she collects their phones to ensure private moments for their family.
“Creating private moments and spaces is becoming increasingly difficult. But that’s also why we entertain a lot at home,” she said. “I now have a phone basket that I use to take everyone’s phones away! It’s important to get that balance where you have time alone with your family and with your friends, where people feel like you can have a safe and frank exchange.”
Clooney and Amal have also made conscious decisions about where to raise their children. Living on a farm in France, they’ve shielded the twins from the pressures of Hollywood culture. “You know, we live on a farm in France. A good portion of my life growing up was on a farm, and as a kid, I hated the whole idea of it,” George said.
“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.” He continued, “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. France—they kind of don’t give a s--- about fame. 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.”
Despite the focus on privacy, Clooney occasionally shares sweet insights into family life. During the podcast, he emphasized that he and Amal have never felt the need to argue. “Neither of us are gonna win the argument, so why get in?” he said.
“Dude, I’m 64 years old. And what am I gonna argue about at this point? You know? I’ve met this incredible woman that is... she’s beautiful and smart, and she stands for all the most important things that I believe in in the world. And I can’t believe how lucky I am. So what am I going to fight about?” he added.