Amal Clooney: Redefining Power, Elegance, and Advocacy on the Global Stage.
Amal Alamuddin Clooney is a prominent attorney and activist known for her work in international law and human rights. She is married to actor George Clooney.
Who Is Amal Clooney?
Born in Beirut in 1978, Lebanese-British lawyer and activist Amal Ramzi Alamuddin Clooney grew up in England. A top student, she attended Oxford University and NYU, launching a remarkable legal career. In addition to her high-profile defense work, Clooney has participated in various United Nations commissions and tribunals and has taught at prestigious universities. She tied the knot with actor George Clooney in 2014, and they are proud parents of twins.
Quick Facts About Amal Clooney
Amal Ramzi Alamuddin was born on February 3, 1978, in Beirut, Lebanon. Her father was a professor at the American University in Beirut and also ran a travel agency, while her mother worked as a journalist. When Amal was just 2 years old, her family left Lebanon to escape the civil war that had erupted in the mid-1970s. They relocated to London in 1980, where Amal attended a small school on the outskirts of the city. A standout student, she received a scholarship to Oxford University in 1996. During her time there, she developed a passion for human rights, ultimately graduating with a law degree in 2000.
Alamuddin then enrolled in the NYU School of Law to earn her master’s degree. Outside of her coursework, she enhanced her education through several prestigious clerkships, including a position at the U.S. Court of Appeals under future Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and at the International Court of Justice. She completed her degree in 2002 and successfully passed the New York State Bar exam that same year.
Legal Career
After becoming a licensed attorney, Alamuddin joined Sullivan & Cromwell, a leading law firm based in New York City. As part of the defense team, she represented several high-profile clients, including Enron and Arthur Andersen, during investigations into their illegal activities.
In 2005, she shifted her focus to international law by joining a United Nations tribunal tasked with prosecuting those responsible for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
Doughty Street Chambers
In 2010, Alamuddin returned to London to practice as a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, a firm renowned for its commitment to civil liberties. She took on numerous high-stakes cases in international courts, defending figures such as former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Muammar al-Qaddafi’s intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, and WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange.
In addition to her criminal defense work, Alamuddin has held significant advisory positions, including collaborating with Kofi Annan on a United Nations commission regarding Syria and serving as counsel during a 2013 investigation into drone usage in counter-terrorism. She has also played a role in the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative, advocating for women’s rights in war-torn areas. In early 2015, she announced her representation of Armenia in the European Court of Human Rights in its case against Turkey concerning the denial of the Armenian genocide.
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Amal Alamuddin has shared her expertise in criminal law through lectures at prestigious institutions like the University of London and the Hague Academy of International Law. Additionally, she is a visiting faculty member at Columbia Law School.
George Clooney
Her relationship with George Clooney, a renowned actor and former bachelor, brought her even more into the public eye. The couple tied the knot in Venice, Italy, in September 2014, and soon after, they settled into a luxurious estate on a small island in the Thames, London.
They began their philanthropic journey together by donating the proceeds from their wedding photos to a human rights organization. In February 2017, it was announced that Amal was expecting twins. She welcomed a daughter and a son, named Ella and Alexander, on June 6, 2017, at a London hospital, marking the first children for both parents.
Following the birth, the family shared a joyful statement through George’s publicist: “This morning we welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney into our lives. Ella, Alexander, and Amal are all healthy, happy, and doing well.” The statement humorously noted George’s transition from a well-known bachelor to a proud father: “George is sedated and should recover in a few days.” After the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in February 2018, the Clooneys supported the March for Our Lives event scheduled for the following month. “Our family will be there on March 24 to stand alongside this remarkable generation of young people from across the nation, and in honor of our children Ella and Alexander, we’re donating $500,000 to help fund this important event,” George stated.
The news they shared triggered a chain reaction in Hollywood, prompting influential figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, and Jeffrey Katzenberg to step up and pledge $500,000 each to support the initiative.
How Did George and Amal Clooney Cross Paths?
In 2013, George Clooney had no idea he would meet his future wife, Amal Clooney, when he invited a friend over for dinner at his Lake Como residence. When the friend asked if he could bring someone along, George happily agreed, leading to his first encounter with Amal.
During a 2018 appearance on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, George described their initial meeting as “the wildest thing.” Amal shared her thoughts on their first meeting in her 2018 Vogue cover interview. “I always dreamed of finding a love that was all-consuming and didn’t involve any weighing or decision-making,” she reflected. “It’s something you have the least control over.
Will you meet this person? I was 35 when I met him, and it wasn’t clear that it would happen for me. I wasn’t particularly eager about the idea of marriage or starting a family without that connection.” George Clooney and Amal Clooney’s Journey Together Since tying the knot in 2014, the couple has grown closer than ever. Two years later, they founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice, dedicated to holding those responsible for mass atrocities accountable and assisting victims in their pursuit of justice, as stated on their website.
The foundation focuses on promoting justice and accountability for human rights abuses worldwide. Its initiatives include programs like TrialWatch, which monitors and evaluates trials to ensure fairness, and The Docket, which investigates and prosecutes individuals responsible for atrocities. The foundation also supports refugees, displaced communities, and victims of conflict through education and advocacy.
In 2017, they welcomed twins, Ella and Alexander, into their family. In a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, George expressed that he recognized Amal was the one for him almost instantly. “We were a team from the very beginning. Right away, we felt happy, and we’ve remained happy ever since,” he shared. As they celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in September 2024, George hinted at special plans during their annual charity event just days before. “I’m taking her somewhere tonight, but she doesn’t know where,” he playfully revealed, with Amal by his side.
Amal and George Clooney first crossed paths at his residence in Italy. During an episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, George shared that Amal was visiting Italy when they met. In July 2013, a mutual friend introduced her to George at his villa in Lake Como. “It’s the craziest thing,” George recalled. “A friend of ours said, ‘I’m stopping by, can I bring my friend?’ and I was like, ‘Sure!’”
He went on to share, “I received a call from my agent who told me, ‘I met this woman who’s coming to your house, and you’re going to marry her.’ The funny part was that my parents were visiting at the time, so they were there too, and we ended up talking all night.” In a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, George admitted he was instantly drawn to Amal. “I thought she was beautiful, funny, and obviously very smart,” he said, adding with a laugh that she probably viewed him as “old.”
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After their initial meeting, Amal and George began exchanging letters. In the same 2017 interview, George mentioned, “[Amal] sent me some photos from her visit, and we started writing to each other, emailing, and discussing what was happening in our lives.” He noted that “over time, it became clear we were more than just friends.” Today, letter writing remains a cherished tradition for the Clooneys. As George shared with Drew Barrymore in 2022, “I began writing her a lot of letters… We still write letters and leave them on the pillow.”
Amal and George Clooney had their first date in London. George shared the story of that memorable evening on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2022. “She was living in London while I was there to work on a film. I thought, if there’s ever a chance to impress someone, it’s at Abbey Road with a 150-piece orchestra,” he recalled about their October 2013 outing. “So, I called her and asked, ‘Would you like to come visit me at Abbey Road?”
He also recounted Amal’s intriguing reply: “She said, ‘Sure, I’m in a meeting with the Muslim Brotherhood right now, but I’ll be right over.’ She was busy working on a constitutional project. Our lives are quite different.” The star of The Wolves mentioned to The Hollywood Reporter that the date went splendidly and their bond developed rapidly. “It was a fantastic first date. After that, we went out for dinner,” he shared. “We chose a really trendy and stylish place.
When we stepped outside, there were about 50 paparazzi waiting for us. But she handled it like a pro. Things moved quickly after I was in London.” Just five months after they met, Amal and George took a trip to Kenya together. In early 2014, they enjoyed a safari, where George revealed, “Amal adores giraffes; they’re her favorite animal.” He mentioned that they visited Giraffe Manor, where the giraffes come up to the windows for a kiss.
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Upon returning to Los Angeles, George showed a picture of Amal to his friend, Ben Weiss. “I had this lovely photo of her smiling at the giraffes,” he explained, “and I thought, ‘I think I’m going to propose to her.’” As they approached their 10th anniversary in September 2024, George and Amal hosted their annual charity event for their foundation. “I’ll support anything my wife is passionate about,” George expressed. “She’s always on the right side of history, and I’m incredibly proud to be by her side.”
George Clooney popped the question to Amal after dating for less than a year. He had meticulously planned the entire evening, but during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, he humorously described his proposal as a “disaster.” He shared that he had a playlist featuring his Aunt Rosemary’s singing.
As they enjoyed a dinner he had prepared, the song began to play, prompting him to say, “You know, ‘I think there’s a lighter in the drawer to relight the candle,’ which I blew out.”
When Amal reached into the small drawer for the lighter, she spotted the ring and exclaimed, “There’s a ring in there,” completely missing the proposal moment. However, George reassured Drew, “We pulled it off.” George and Amal tied the knot in 2014. They returned to the location of their first meeting and exchanged vows at the beautiful Aman Canal Grande Venice in Italy on September 27, 2014, surrounded by around 100 close family and friends.
George donned a Giorgio Armani suit, while Amal looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder Oscar de la Renta gown crafted from French lace and adorned with pearls and diamanté. Amal’s mother, Baria, said, “George and Amal radiated love all night. The wedding was so unbelievably special, it was legendary.
These three days – the friends, the families, the atmosphere, everything – will stay with me all the rest of my life.” In 2018, Amal delivered a heartfelt speech at the American Film Institute Awards honoring George, who was receiving a Life Achievement Award. She highlighted his character, expressing why she remains so enchanted by him: “He is a gentleman in every sense of the word and in a way that seems so rare these days and, perhaps, even outdated.” Proudly congratulating him on the accolade, she added, “I am so proud of you, my love.”
Amal and George Clooney welcomed their first children in 2017. Just three years after tying the knot, Amal gave birth to their twins, Ella and Alexander, on June 6, 2017. Reflecting on the experience of raising twins, George mentioned on Good Morning America in 2023, “When you have twins and you’re raising [them] the same time, the same way, and they’re completely different human beings, you realize how little say you have in who they are.” During her speech at the American Film Institute Awards, Amal expressed that “seeing George with our children, Ella and Alexander, is the greatest joy in my life.”
Amal Clooney embodies the perfect blend of intellect, elegance, and compassion. A trailblazing human rights attorney, she has fought tirelessly for justice on a global scale, while her marriage to George Clooney has brought her into the public eye as a cultural and philanthropic icon. Together, the Clooneys champion causes that seek to protect human rights and promote accountability. Balancing her legal career, family life, and public engagements, Amal has become an inspiration for women worldwide. Her story is a testament to the power of combining professional excellence with a commitment to creating a more equitable and just world.