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George Clooney gave the 2026 Golden Globe Awards a bilingual moment when he briefly spoke French onstage while presenting an award at the ceremony in Beverly Hills on Sunday night.
Appearing alongside longtime friend and Ocean's Eleven costar Don Cheadle, Clooney opened their presentation by greeting the audience in French, a nod to his newly acquired citizenship. Clooney, 64, his wife Amal, and their twin children, Alexander and Ella, were recently granted French nationality under a naturalization decree published in France late last year.
"Bonsoir, mes amis," Clooney said with a smile, before adding, "C'est un honneur d'être ici," drawing laughter and applause from the crowd inside the Beverly Hilton. The actor is nominated this year for his performance in Jay Kelly.
Cheadle, 61, joined in the playful moment, offering his own "bonsoir" as the pair reunited onstage. The exchange quickly turned comedic when Cheadle teased Clooney about losing the Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy award earlier in the evening to Marty Supreme star Timothée Chalamet..
"We're all winners here," Clooney protested. "Not really, you aren't," Cheadle shot back, earning another round of laughs. The duo then presented the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Drama, which went to Chloé Zhao's Hamnet.
Clooney's French-language greeting came weeks after his family's new citizenship sparked political commentary in the United States. On Dec. 31, President Donald Trump publicly criticized the move in a post on Truth Social, mocking Clooney and questioning France's leadership on immigration.
Clooney responded days later with a brief statement that carried a note of irony, saying he agreed with Trump's desire to "make America great again," while adding that the process would begin with upcoming elections. French officials, meanwhile, welcomed the Clooney family warmly. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs released a statement praising the actor and his wife, calling their addition to the national community a source of pride.
The Clooneys have lived in France since purchasing a rural estate in 2021. In previous interviews, Clooney has said the quieter lifestyle has been especially beneficial for his children, who spend more time outdoors, share meals with adults, and experience what he described as a "simpler, better life."
The Golden Globes moment offered a lighthearted glimpse of Clooney embracing that new chapter, accent and all.
