Dawn Images

Amal Clooney gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, on Tuesday, her husband George Clooney's publicist said, the first children for the international human rights lawyer and her movie star spouse.

Amal Clooney and the Oscar-winning star of films like "Ocean's Eleven" and "Three Kings" married in Italy in 2014, making them one of the world's biggest celebrity couples.

"This morning Amal and George welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney into their lives. Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and doing fine," publicist Stan Rosenfield said in an email.

He added cheekily, "George is sedated and should recover in a few days."

Rosenfield did not say where the twins were born but the couple appear to have been spending much of their time recently in England, where they have one of several homes.

People magazine reported on Tuesday that former U.S. President Barack Obama visited the Clooneys at their home in the countryside west of London on May 27.

Amal Clooney, 39, and George Clooney, 56, adopted a low profile during her pregnancy, keeping the news private for months before it was confirmed in February by the actor's close friend, Matt Damon.

Since then, the couple, who have homes in England, Italy and the United States, have said little about the pregnancy.

George Clooney canceled a visit to Armenia for a humanitarian event this past weekend, saying in a message to organizers that "if I came there and my wife had twins while I was there, I could never come home."

Amal Clooney has largely continued her work as a human rights lawyer, addressing the United Nations in March and urging the international community to investigate crimes committed by Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

Despite their silence, celebrity news media outlets have speculated for months about the sex of the twins, where they would be born and in which country they will be raised.

On Tuesday, social media lit up with congratulatory messages. "Ella and Alexander" was among the top trending topics on Twitter in the United States.

"Welcome to the world Ella and Alexander Clooney. You have made it better already and I hope one of my children has a fling with you one day," tweeted Krista (@KristaCoffin).

"My birthday will now be known as Clooney twins day," wrote Andrea Brown (@andmbrown).