The wedding of George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin is generating almost as much interest as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's surprise nuptials. Until a few months ago the British legal eagle was unknown outside her professional circle. Since then the Oscar-winning star's friends and family have come out to sing Amal's praises. Read in their own words, why they think George has finally found The One.
George Clooney: "I am marrying up". His mother Nina Clooney: "You can say I'm extremely happy, Amal's a lovely girl." 'We weren’t at all surprised when they told us they were engaged, and we couldn’t be happier for them. "On an intellectual level, they are equals. That is very important to him. Amal’s world couldn’t be more different from the Hollywood lifestyle. She’s a lawyer, she is brilliant, she is a very bright woman and at the very top of her career. His father Nick Clooney: 'We are thrilled...my wife and I are absolutely thrilled...we are excited for both of them. Amal is a very lovely girl.' Julia Roberts called her "beautiful and smart" and revealed that George is "happy", before adding: "That's what matters to me."
Mark Stephens, the solicitor who hired Amal to represent Wikileaks founder Julian Assange: “She is a fabulously bright woman, she’s independent, has a Rolls-Royce mind and intersocial skills to die for.” Robin Jackson, the chief executive of Doughy Street Chambers: "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”.Author Kathy Lette who is married to Geoffrey Robertson QC, founder of her chambers: “The woman is a brilliant lawyer, jaw-droppingly beautiful, perspicacious, principled, passionate about human rights, an adviser to Kofi Annan on Syria, fluent in three languages – French, Arabic and English – wise, witty, a good laugh and great fun. Hell, I’d marry her! As would every other heterosexual woman I know!"