Celebrities are known for getting very creative with their children's names. From the offbeat (Apple, Reign, Sparrow, and Raddix come to mind) to the downright bizarre (who can forget X Æ A-12, the inexplicably wacky moniker chosen by singer Grimes?), Hollywood definitely doesn't follow the typical baby name trends. But apparently, George Clooney is a bit of a rebel. In a new interview, the 59-year-old actor revealed he made it a point to give his kids traditional names.
George said he knew his celebrity status would already make life hard enough for his kids
Chatting with AARP magazine, the Midnight Sky star said he insisted on giving his two children, 3-year-old twins Alexander and Ella, normal names.
"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," he told the outlet.
The actor also opened up about his family life during lockdown
During the long months that he, his wife, Amal, and his kids have been holed up together at home, George has apparently picked up a few new skills, such as giving kids' haircuts. Revealing that he has trimmed his own hair for 25 years using a Flowbee (we can't decide if he's really serious about this or not), he joked that Amal won't let him use the device on Alexander.
"My wife won't let me Flowbee my son's hair. So I have to cut it with scissors. I'm scrappy, buddy," he said.
He's also been doing a little sewing
Evidently, his many years as a bachelor forced him to learn to sew buttons and mend his clothes, and now he's sharing his skills with his family.
"I do a lot of sewing the kids' clothes," he told AARP. "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."
These are some pretty fascinating relevations. Who would have thought one of Hollywood's biggest heartthrobs — known for his lavish, jet-setting lifestyle — was handy with a humble needle and thread?
George also revealed that he and Amal regularly exchange love letters
He's had a passion for letter writing for many years and even has favorites written by the likes of Paul Newman and Gregory Peck framed and hung around his home. Throughout their relationship, George and Amal have carried on a tradition of writing little notes to each other.
"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. So cute!
Believe it or not, George is about to turn 60 — and he's grappling with his feelings about the big milestone
While he will forever be the dashing young Dr. Ross (from ER) in our minds, George is in fact on the precipice of his 60th birthday. He admitted to AARP that he turned down numerous invitations to appear on the magazine's cover over the past decade — but that at 50, he did briefly consider doing it as a joke.
"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," he explained, adding that much has changed since then. "Now that I'm about to turn 60 (in May), it's not as funny. I always say to my dad, 'I'm middle-aged.' And he goes, 'You know a lot of 120-year-olds?'"
Leave it to Dad to keep things real!
