‘I just wanted to say that you, my love, like this city, take my breath away,’ Amal said of George at an event in Venice on Thursday
Amal Clooney shared a glimpse into her and husband George Clooney’s love story as she accepted her honor at the annual DVF Awards on Thursday.
Amal, 45, a human rights lawyer and activist, was among a group of women who received the DVF Leadership Award during a ceremony hosted by fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg at the Venice International Film Festival.
Accepting the honor – in recognition of her work advocating for victims of abuse around the world – Amal dedicated part of her speech to George, 62, who had been supporting her throughout the night. The two arrived hand in hand in glamorous outfits, she in a pink Christian Dior by John Galliano lace dress, and he in a black suit.
George and Amal Clooney arrive hand in hand as a stylish couple at the DVF Awards in Venice
Jacopo Raule/Getty
“I am here in Venice with my husband; he’s a star on the rise,” Amal joked to the crowd before going on to talk about what the city means to them as a couple.
“Venice is where we got married almost nine years ago,” she said. “As we sailed through the city the last two days, I thought how incredibly lucky I am that somehow our incredibly different worlds collided one day 10 years ago in Lake Como. I just think about the millions of things that had to happen in our lives to get us to that moment and how grateful I am for that happiness, my love.”
She continued: “I just wanted to say, you, my love, love this city, take my breath away and make our lives magical. Sometimes it’s hard to believe you exist, so thank you for being the brightest light in my life.”
Giuseppe Fantasia, an Italian film and art critic in attendance, tells PEOPLE that the two were “very affectionate” during the night.
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Jacopo Raule/Getty
George Clooney and wife Amal look chic as they attend a glamorous dinner in Venice: photo
While accepting her award, Amal shared a message of hope from the late former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who “once said it’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness and in this room I see so many people shining their light. ”
Amal also singled out her friend Maria Ressa, a Filipino-American journalist who faced backlash and accusations and was convicted of cyber defamation in the Philippines in her fight against exposing misinformation in the press, as reported The New York Times.
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Attendees at the DVF Awards including Emma Thompson (second from left) Nancy Pelosi (third from left). Diane von Furstenberg (center), Amal Clooney (third from center), Maria Ressa (fourth from right) and Rita Ora (second from right).
Stefano Trovati-Alfonso Catalano/SGP
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George and Amal have been seen several times enjoying Venice in style.
On August 29, the two hit the town in coordinating ensembles, Amal wearing a floral print dress and stiletto heels, and George keeping things cool and casual in powder pants and a navy collared shirt.
They were then seen dining at local hot spot, Ristorante Da Ivo dressed in cocktail attire. And after a night of socializing and celebrating at the DVF Awards, the pair stepped out in matching black outfits as they wrapped up their trip to Venice.
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Source: HIS Education