Amal Clooney named the 'Most Fascinating Person of 2014'

But not because she's one of the world's leading human rights lawyers. In fact, Barbara Walters' reasoning will probably greatly perturb you

Amal Clooney has many titles.

Former advisor on Syria to UN Special Envoy Kofi Annan, for example. Internationally renowned human rights lawyer. Barrister to Julian Assange and former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

And now Mrs George Clooney, too. The one title that, according to ABC host Barbara Walters, elevated her from the ordinary woman about a life-saving international tribunal somewhere to ‘Most Fascinating Person of 2014’.

“You could say hers was the wedding of the year, but let’s put it into perspective, it was really one of the greatest achievements in human history,” Walters said of Amal’s marriage Clooney, which took part in Venice in September shortly before she wrote to the Egyptian government demanding the release of imprisoned journalist Mohamed Fahmy. Or the British government, for that matter, calling for the return of the Elgin Marbles to Greece.

“Amal has been the subject of very little snark or envy, maybe because we – like George Clooney – find it impossible to resist perfection,” Walters continued to crow.

“Or maybe because it is heartening to think that no matter how long it may take, the perfect someone is out there for everyone. And that, for us, makes her the most fascinating person of 2014.”

However, unlike a number of other ‘Most Fascinating’ people featured on her annual two-hour show, Mrs Clooney was not interviewed as part of it.

Others who appeared on Walter’s ultimate list of intrigue included Neil Patrick Harris, Chelsea Handler, Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, billionaire businessman David Koch, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and George R. R. Martin, the festive-looking author of Game of Thrones.