It’s not unusual for celebrities to give their children unique, and sometimes, bizarre names with a not-so obvious meaning.
But it turns out George Clooney was having none of that when he and his wife Amal Alamuddin welcomed their twins to the world three-and-a-half years ago.
The acclaimed actor’s rationale was that life under the glare of his fame would be trouble enough for his kids without having weird names to boot.
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Bucking the ttrend: George Clooney revealed that he refused to give his twins weird celebrity names, in an interview with AARP; he is pictured on Jimmy Kimmel Live in December 2020
After being known as the perpetual bachelor during the early years of his career, Clooney turned that single, ladies man persona upside down when he married Alamuddin in September 2014.
He then earned the ‘family man’ title when the couple became parents to twins — a boy and a girl — in June 2017.
When deciding on what to name their children, the two-time Oscar-winner was insistent that they didn’t follow the unusual name trend; so they decided on Alexander and Ella.
‘I didn’t want, like, weird-a** names for our kids. They’re already going to have enough trouble. It’s hard being the son of somebody famous and successful,’ The Descendants star explained in an interview with AARP.
His rationale: The acclaimed actor and director said his kids would have enough trouble under the glare of his fame to give them unusual names
Clooney’s confession comes after he spent a good nine months in quarantine, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at his home in Los Angeles.
Like many people during lockdown, the actor directed much of attention to his kids, and he started making time for things he had been putting off.
One of his lesser known talents happens to be sewing, which has been put to use since the coronavirus was deemed a pandemic in mid-March 2020.
‘I do a lot of sewing the kids’ clothes,’ Clooney told the February/March issue of the magazine. ‘And my wife’s dress that tore a couple of times. I was a bachelor for a long time and didn’t have any money, and you have to learn how to repair things.’
He also revealed that he fixed his wife ripped dress after years learning how to do repairs himself as a long-time bachelor.
Jack of all trades: George Clooney opened up about sewing his children’s clothing and exchanging letters with his wife Amal Alamuddin during the AARP interview
‘If we were on an island and you had to pick somebody to help you survive, I would pick me. Ask all of my friends and they would pick me, too. I can make a waterspout out of this and a pitcher out of that.’
The actor has made himself useful around the house as the family hunkered down in lockdown, and decided to stain the furniture and interiors and exteriors of his home.
‘It was getting dingy, and I had buckets of stain, and I was, like, “Well, what else am I going to do?” It made me feel better. And I put chicken wire all around the dog yard,’ he said.
The pandemic has also not stopped his passion for letter writing.
Quality time: The actor has made himself useful around the house as the family hunkered down amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and decided to stain the furniture and interiors of his home
Clooney has an appreciation for letters, and has some from Walter Cronkite, Paul Newman, and Gregory Peck framed and hung up around his house.
The actor and his wife will also exchange letters every few months, which is a tradition that has been ongoing despite the health crisis.
‘Even in lockdown, I’ll write a letter and slip it on her desk, or she’ll write a letter and leave it under the pillow,’ he said of their romantic gestures to help keep the relationship spontaneous.
Sweet touch: The actor and his wife will also exchange letters every few months, a tradition that has not stopped during the health crisis
With Clooney fast approaching his 60th birthday, the Kentucky native confessed he had turned down offers to appear on the cover of AARP for about 10-years.
He did, however, contemplate doing it as a joke when he celebrated his 50th birthday.
‘I wanted to do a funny bit, which would be Sexiest Man Still Alive. I would have done some funny picture, like with a walker,’ Clooney said in the interview.
Most recently, Clooney directed and starred in the science fiction film The Midnight Sky, which began a limited theatrical release in December 2020, before being released on Netflix.
Going strong: Clooney and Alamuddin have been married for over six years