George Clooney engaged

MANILA, Philippines – He’s off the market. 

Actor and humanitarian George Clooney, 52, is engaged to lawyer Amal Alamuddin, 36, say E! News and People magazine. 

Amal had people talking when she was spotted with a ring on her left ring finger while vacationing in Malibu. 

Most recently, George dated model and actress Stacy Keibler from 2011 to 2013. Stacy is now married to businessman Jared Pobre, and a baby is on the way. 

George was married only once over 20 years ago, to Talia Balsam, an actress. He’s since stayed away from marriage – until now. 

So who’s the woman who finally got the notorious bachelor to put a ring on it? E! News says that Amal, who is Lebanese-born and British, is a trilingual lawyer who specializes in “international law, human rights, extradition and criminal law.” 

George has long shown interest in human rights issues such as the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

George’s other exes include Krista Allen, Elisabetta Canalis – and a long time ago, in the 80s, Kelly Preston, who’s married to John Travolta.

Congratulations

The British law firm that employs Amal also confirmed that the couple were engaged and offered its congratulations.

Doughty Street Chambers in London said it was “delighted” that the human rights lawyer and the Oscar-winning heart-throb were to tie the knot.

“The barristers and staff of Doughty Street Chambers offer their best wishes and congratulations to Ms Amal Alamuddin, a member of chambers, and Mr George Clooney on their engagement to be married,” it said in a statement emailed to AFP.

Bosses at the firm paid tribute to Alamuddin, who joined in 2010.

Chief executive Robin Jackson said: “Amal has been utterly wonderful since she arrived in chambers.

“She brings a bright light to everything she is involved in, and I am so delighted at her happy news.”

Alamuddin’s clients have included former Ukrainian premier Yulia Tymoshenko, whose detention she challenged before the European Court of Human Rights, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, during his extradition proceedings.

Leading rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, who worked with Amal on the Tymoshenko and Assange cases, said she was “respected and admired” by everyone at the firm.

“Amal Alamuddin is a brilliant and passionate defender of human rights who has put in the enormously hard work necessary to improving them,” he said.

Alamuddin and Clooney were first seen in public as a couple in October and have since been seen on holiday in places including Tanzania and the Seychelles.

– with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com