And now you know . . . (channeling Roman Polanski)
Clooney granted fast-tracked French citizenship after request from top official
France’s foreign affairs minister underlined Clooney’s philanthropy and economic impact on France as motivation for the decision.
Océane Herrero and Victor Goury-Laffont | December 31, 2025 | 12:19 pm CETPARIS — U.S. actor George Clooney was awarded French citizenship following a request from the country’s foreign affairs minister, according to an official document seen by POLITICO.
In a letter dated Oct. 20 sent to France’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, who handles citizenship procedures, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot proposed that the Hollywood superstar, his wife Amal and their children be granted citizenship through the so-called “citoyen émérite” process.
This allows “a French-speaking foreigner who contributes through his or her outstanding work to the influence of France and the prosperity of its international economic relations” to become a citizen through a request from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Barrot underlines the Clooney family is “permanently based” in the south of France, where their children attend school, and that the couple “maintains personal and professional ties with [France].”
The letter points to the Clooneys’ philanthropic work and notes that “through their life paths and commitments, they embody the values of solidarity, freedom, and creativity that France promotes around the world.” It also states that “Mr. Clooney’s professional activity generates enormous financial benefits from which the French film industry profits.”
A spokesperson for France’s foreign affairs minister confirmed that the request to offer the Clooney family citizenship, which was officially granted on Dec. 26 according to France’s official public records, had been made by Barrot.
A spokesperson for George Clooney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. . . .
https://www.politico.eu/article/george-amal-clooney-french-citizenship-through-fast-track-process-request-jean-noel-barrot/