George Clooney received the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award last night in Hollywood. There were a lot of people who got up on stage to honour him, a lot of famous actors, people who’ve worked with him over the years. But Amal Clooney’s tribute is the one everyone is talking about. Because this is the first time she’s spoken about him in public. Here she is talking about George’s pranks. And when Walter Cronkite wrote to him. And the time he gave his 13 BFFs a million dollars each, a story that never gets old because… A MILLION DOLLARS EACH! 

 

After that, she talks about their relationship – and it gets pretty personal. We get a sense of what it’s like between them. In her interview a couple of month ago with Vogue, we heard Amal calling him “my love” and she does it again during her remarks. Some couples don’t express their feelings for each other tactilely or with their words. Jacek and I are like this. We barely hold hands. It doesn’t mean we don’t love each other, it’s just not our style. The Clooney love style is expressive, romantic in the traditional sense. They’re always holding hands. They’re always close, physically. She calls him “my love”. He slips handwritten letters into her bag for her to find when they’re apart. Clooney love is operatic love!

George was visibly moved by Amal’s speech. I thought his AFI would be like a roast. It turned out to be a lot more emotional than I, personally, had anticipated. That said, Jimmy Kimmel, a student of Don Rickles: 

And Bill Murray who, as we know, doesn’t just show up for anyone. But who clearly adores George: 

 

 

He also adores Miley Cyrus. Which I think is the connection here, as Miley performed last night in George’s honour – not the first person who would have come to mind if you were to planning this event. But Miley can sing. She sang "Man of Constant Sorrow" from O Brother Where Art Thou obviously much better than he did…or didn’t.