George Clooney Reveals Relatable Parenting Santa Trick When Twins Are Misbehaving (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

George Clooney at the Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Boys in the Boat’.Photo:Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images

George Clooneyis pulling out all the stops to encourage his twins to behave.The actor, 62, opened up to PEOPLE about his relatable Santa Claus parenting trick at theLos Angeles premiereof his latest directorial effort,The Boys in the Boat, on Monday.“They’re still all into the Santa thing, which is very helpful, because when my kids are acting poorly, let’s say in July, I have a call from Santa,” Clooney tells PEOPLE of his six-year-old twinsElla and Alexander, whom he shares with wife,Amal Clooney.“And I go, ‘Hey Santa, how’s it going?’ And he’s like, ‘Everything’s going good. How are the kids?’ And I go, ‘Well, I don’t know. Kids, how are you guys doing?’ They’re like, [whining]. And then I get away with it,” he continues of teasing the pair.Adding that he cast a “friend” as Santa, Clooney notes, “I actually have a buddy whose phone comes up ‘Santa.’ ”George and Amal Clooney at Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Boys in the Boat’.Fati Sadou/ABACAPRESS.COM/ShutterstockGeorge and Amal, 45, welcomed their children in June 2017.And three years after their arrival, Georgeopened up to PEOPLEabout how becoming a parent had changed how he views the world.“In marriage, and now with the kids, you give away the selfishness of only looking out for yourself,” he said. “It’s a wonderful thing. Amal and I talk about it every day. We feel so lucky.“George and Amal Clooney at Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Boys in the Boat’.Rob Latour/ShutterstockLawyer and philanthropist Amal joined her husband on the red carpet on Monday and added a splash of color to the event — held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater — in a bright yellow A-line gown.The activist teamed her floor-length dress, which featured a sweetheart neckline, with a metallic embellished clutch and wore her hair in beachy waves.Meanwhile, George sported a black suit with a navy blue button-down shirt underneath.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.TheTicket to Paradisestar also posed with some of cast ofThe Boys in the Boatat the premiere, includingJoel Edgerton,Callum TurnerandBruce Herbelin-Earle.The movie follows the real-life story of the University of Washington’s 1936 men’s rowing team, who went from being the college’s second-tier crew to winning gold at theSummer Olympicsin Berlin.The Boys in the Boatis in theaters on Dec. 25.

George Clooneyis pulling out all the stops to encourage his twins to behave.

The actor, 62, opened up to PEOPLE about his relatable Santa Claus parenting trick at theLos Angeles premiereof his latest directorial effort,The Boys in the Boat, on Monday.

“They’re still all into the Santa thing, which is very helpful, because when my kids are acting poorly, let’s say in July, I have a call from Santa,” Clooney tells PEOPLE of his six-year-old twinsElla and Alexander, whom he shares with wife,Amal Clooney.

“And I go, ‘Hey Santa, how’s it going?’ And he’s like, ‘Everything’s going good. How are the kids?’ And I go, ‘Well, I don’t know. Kids, how are you guys doing?’ They’re like, [whining]. And then I get away with it,” he continues of teasing the pair.

Adding that he cast a “friend” as Santa, Clooney notes, “I actually have a buddy whose phone comes up ‘Santa.’ ”

George and Amal Clooney at Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Boys in the Boat’.Fati Sadou/ABACAPRESS.COM/Shutterstock

Fati Sadou/ABACAPRESS.COM/Shutterstock

George and Amal, 45, welcomed their children in June 2017.

And three years after their arrival, Georgeopened up to PEOPLEabout how becoming a parent had changed how he views the world.

“In marriage, and now with the kids, you give away the selfishness of only looking out for yourself,” he said. “It’s a wonderful thing. Amal and I talk about it every day. We feel so lucky.”

George and Amal Clooney at Los Angeles premiere of ‘The Boys in the Boat’.Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Lawyer and philanthropist Amal joined her husband on the red carpet on Monday and added a splash of color to the event — held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater — in a bright yellow A-line gown.

The activist teamed her floor-length dress, which featured a sweetheart neckline, with a metallic embellished clutch and wore her hair in beachy waves.

Meanwhile, George sported a black suit with a navy blue button-down shirt underneath.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

TheTicket to Paradisestar also posed with some of cast ofThe Boys in the Boatat the premiere, includingJoel Edgerton,Callum TurnerandBruce Herbelin-Earle.

The movie follows the real-life story of the University of Washington’s 1936 men’s rowing team, who went from being the college’s second-tier crew to winning gold at theSummer Olympicsin Berlin.

The Boys in the Boatis in theaters on Dec. 25.

source: people.com