George Clooney was honoured with the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award this week, and his wife Amal’s speech moved everyone to tears – including George.
On the night, major stars including Don Cheadle, Bill Murray, Anna Kendrick, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Cate Blanchett paid tribute to the actor’s accomplishments in Hollywood – but Amal’s tribute stole the show.
In her speech, the human rights lawyer gushed, “Here are a few things you may not know about [George]. First, he is a gentleman. He is a gentleman in every sense of the word and in a way that seems so rare these days and perhaps even outdated.”
“I think it’s incredible talent and character that got him here. And these attributes also make him an amazing husband and father.”
Amal joked that before she met her husband, she thought she was destined to “be a spinster.”
“I met George when I was 35 and starting to become quite resigned to the idea that I was going to be a spinster. Then we met and started hiding out in my London flat and very soon it felt like, no matter what happened, I would never want to be with anyone else.”
“I couldn’t sleep when we were apart and I’m told that I would display a particular grin and head-tilt when reading his text messages or the letters he would hide in my bag,” she explained.
““Five years later, none of that has changed. He is the person who has my complete admiration and also the person whose smile makes me melt every time. My love, what I have found with you is the great love I always hoped existed.”
More Amal on George, “the person who has my complete admiration…whose smile makes me melt every time. My love, what I have found with you is great love I always hoped existed. And seeing you with our children, Ella and Alexander, is greatest joy in my life.” #GeorgeClooneyAFI pic.twitter.com/8IwEHq84AT
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) June 8, 2018
George then started to tear up when Amal spoke about his role as a father to their twins, who they welcomed last June.
“Seeing you with our children, Ella and Alexander, is the greatest joy in my life. You fill our home with laughter and happiness and that’s even before the children have worked out that ‘dada’ is actually Batman, a talking fox, and friends with Mary Poppins.”
“I’m proud of you. But I also know that when our children find out not only what you have done, but who you are, they will be so proud of you, too.”
Amal, who married George in Venice, Italy, back in 2014, also spoke about the time George gifted 13 of his closest friends $1 million each.
Love Amal Clooney’s speech about George, she reveals he invited 13 closest friends to dinner and gave them $1 million each. Also visited elderly woman in nursing home to make her day, still prankster using nappy and @NutellaUSA #GeorgeClooneyAFI pic.twitter.com/PCWWWHany4
— Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) June 8, 2018
