Amal Clooney gives romantic toast to teary George, says she thought she'd be a 'spinster' at 35

HOLLYWOOD — Get ready to experience all the feels.

On Thursday night, George Clooney, 57, was awarded the American Film Institute’s lofty Lifetime Achievement Award, and was toasted (and roasted) by friends including Bill Murray, Jimmy Kimmel, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Julianna Margulies, Laura Dern, Anna Kendrick and Don Cheadle.

“A billion dollars,” said Kimmel, shaking his head as he walked onstage at the Dolby Theatre, grasping a bottle of Clooney’s Casamigos tequila.

Even former President Barack Obama sent in a taped segment for the Audi-sponsored affair. “I’ve always harbored just a touch of resentment over the fact that George is almost exactly the same age as me, always looks better than me and does the whole gray hair thing better than me,” Obama cracked.

Former Friends stars Cox and Aniston took the stage together to laud themselves for giving Clooney’s breakout role on NBC’s E.R. its strong lead-in during the age of Must See TV.

“There were millions of people watching Friends,” ribbed Cox, “who happened to stay there, too lazy to turn to channel (and then watched) E.R. Without us, you’re Chicago Hope, buddy!”

“You’re welcome,” nodded Aniston.

But it was Clooney’s barrister wife, Amal, 40, who brought down the house, shyly sharing a new details about the famous couple’s private life together.

Amal admitted she was nervous stepping into the spotlight. “It’s somehow easier for me to address a court on behalf of a detainee than to speak publicly, as I’m doing for the first time tonight for my husband,” the international human rights lawyer said from the stage.

Amal then shared some details that have never been made public about their romance. She even admitted to some common singleton fears.

“I met George when I was 35 and starting to become quite resigned to the idea that I was going to be a spinster,” she said.”Then we met, started hiding out in my London flat and very soon it felt like no matter what happened I would never want to be with anyone else. I couldn’t sleep when we were apart, and I’m told I would display a particular grin and head tilt when reading his text messages or the letters that he would hide in my bag.

“Five years later, none of that has changed,” she continued. “He is the person who has my complete admiration, and also the person whose smile makes me melt every time. My love, what I have found with you is the great love that I always hoped existed. And seeing you with our children, Ella and Alexander, is the greatest joy in my life. You fill our home with laughter and happiness and that’s even before the children have worked out that ‘Dada’ is actually Batman.”

George, who visibly teared up during Amal’s speech, didn’t disappoint when he took the stage to accept his AFI award from past winner Shirley MacLaine.

“So yesterday, my two children turned one year old,” the Oscar-winner said, adding: “I thought if you had a successful career that you weren’t really going to be able to have one great love in your life. And then Amal walked in.

“And now we’ve got these two knuckleheads,” Clooney continued. “And every day they make me feel small. And Amal…you make every single day, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, as special as today.”

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