We always knew Amal Alamuddin was more than just Mrs George Clooney

Being a star wife could be one hell of a job, but, human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, who incidentally is Hollywood superstar George Clooney’s wife, is way too different. Ever since the lawyer tied the knot with him, her life has been under a scanner.

“What? You think I cook?” said Amal, turning down the offer of a recipe book from the chef Sal Scognamillo of Patsy’s Italian restaurant in New York recently. “I don’t cook. You expect me to learn?” asked Amal, who was accompanied by mom-in-law Nina Clooney. 

The purists were aghast as this was a reaction least expected from a prominent star wife - publicly dismissing the idea of entering a kitchen. British tabloids were quick to declare Amal’s comment as the "quote of the day" as the statement evidently took everyone by surprise. People at large, perhaps, were expecting a politically correct answer from Amal.

The matter-of-fact statement was in stark contrast to the famous video of Angelina Jolie, trying to learn how to cook, assumedly for hubby Brad Pitt and her six children. Jolie had admitted to a tabloid about her awful cooking skills and her inability to cook something as simple as spaghetti.

Keeping in view the fact that the world outside is extremely judgmental about women (particularly married women) and their tryst in the kitchen; she had hoped to improve her domestic skills, soon after her marriage last year. “Now that I’m officially a wife, I said to Brad that I was going to try to learn to cook properly,” she had said in an interview.

Although nobody expects A-list celebrities like Jolie and Amal to step into the avatar of the Desperate Housewife, but a few smart comebacks like those made by Amal are meant to be applauded. The British-Lebanese lawyer Amal was far more forthcoming. The barrister at Doughty Street Chambers has some prominent names in her client list including the likes of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (she fought his case against extradition) and had represented former prime minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko. She has been associated with United Nations Commission, including as adviser to former UN general secretary Kofi Annan.

Amal emerged as the head turner, stepping out besides Clooney in a glamorous avatar at the red carpet of various prestigious award functions lately. Clearly, the red carpet appearances weren't an indication that her identity was mingled with that of her hubby’s dominant position in Hollywood. Their lives are as diverse as their individuality. George Clooney shoots for his upcoming project Money Monster, directed by Jodie Foster, while his lady takes up the role of visiting lecturer and a senior fellow with Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute.