Julia Roberts
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Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an American actress. Known for her leading roles in films encompassing a variety of genres, she has received multiple accolades, including an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
, a British Academy Film Award, and three
Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...
. The films in which she has starred have collectively grossed over $3.9 billion globally, making her one of
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...
's most bankable stars. After an early breakthrough with appearances in '' Mystic Pizza'' (1988) and '' Steel Magnolias'' (1989), Roberts established herself as a leading actress when she headlined the romantic comedy ''
Pretty Woman ''Pretty Woman'' is a 1990 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall, from a screenplay by J. F. Lawton. The film stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, and features Héctor Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy (in his final performance) ...
'' (1990), which grossed $464million worldwide. She starred in numerous commercially successful films throughout the 1990s, including the cult romantic comedies ''
My Best Friend's Wedding ''My Best Friend's Wedding'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by P.J. Hogan from a screenplay by Ronald Bass. The film stars Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, and Rupert Everett. The film received generally positive ...
'' (1997), '' Notting Hill'' (1999) and '' Runaway Bride'' (1999), before winning the
Academy Award for Best Actress The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film released that year ...
for her performance in the biographical drama '' Erin Brockovich'' (2000). Roberts achieved further film success in the following decades with ''
Ocean's Eleven ''Ocean's Eleven'' is a 2001 American heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Ted Griffin. The first installment in the ''Ocean's'' film trilogy, it is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film of the same name. The ...
'' (2001), ''
Ocean's Twelve ''Ocean's Twelve'' is a 2004 American heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by George Nolfi. The second installment in the ''Ocean's'' film trilogy franchise and the sequel to ''Ocean's Eleven'' (2001), the film features a ...
'' (2004), '' Charlie Wilson's War'' (2007), ''
Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, thr ...
'' (2010), '' Eat Pray Love'' (2010), '' August: Osage County'' (2013), '' Wonder'' (2017), and '' Ticket to Paradise'' (2022). She also received a
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
nomination for the HBO television film '' The Normal Heart'' (2014), had her first regular television role in the first season of the
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psychological thriller series ''
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'' (2018), and portrayed
Martha Mitchell Martha Elizabeth Beall Mitchell (September 2, 1918 – May 31, 1976) was the wife of John N. Mitchell, United States Attorney General under President Richard Nixon. Her public comments and interviews during the Watergate scandal were frank and r ...
in the
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political limited series '' Gaslit'' (2022). In addition to acting, Roberts runs the production company Red Om Films, through which she has served as an executive producer for various projects she has starred in, as well as for the first four films of the ''
American Girl American Girl is an American line of dolls released on May 5, 1986, by Pleasant Company. The dolls portray eight- to fourteen-year-old boys and girls of a variety of ethnicities, faiths, and social classes from different time periods throughou ...
'' franchise (2004–2008). She has acted as the global ambassador for
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since 2009. She was the world's highest-paid actress throughout the majority of the 1990s and the first half of the 2000s. She was paid $300,000 for ''Pretty Woman'' (1990), and received then-unprecedented fees of $20 million and $25 million for her roles in ''Erin Brockovich'' (2000) and '' Mona Lisa Smile'' (2003), respectively. , Roberts' net worth was estimated to be $250 million. ''
People A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of prope ...
'' magazine has named her the most beautiful woman in the world a record five times.


Early life and family

Roberts was born on October 28, 1967, in Smyrna, Georgia, a suburb of
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...
, to Betty Lou Bredemus and Walter Grady Roberts. She is of English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German, and Swedish descent. Her father was a Baptist, her mother a Catholic, and she was raised Catholic. Her older brother
Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. His career began with a leading role in '' King of the Gypsies'' (1978) for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. He was nominated again at the Golden Globes ...
(born 1956), from whom she was estranged for several years until 2004, older sister Lisa Roberts Gillan (born 1965), and niece Emma Roberts, are also actors. She also had a younger half-sister named Nancy Motes. Roberts's parents, one-time actors and playwrights, met while performing in theatrical productions for the armed forces. They later co-founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop in
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...
, off Juniper Street in Midtown. They ran a children's acting school in
Decatur, Georgia Decatur is a city in, and the county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, which is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 24,928 in the 2020 census, the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes ...
, while they were expecting Julia. The children of Coretta and Martin Luther King Jr. attended the school; Walter Roberts served as acting coach for their daughter, Yolanda. As a thank-you for his service running the only racially integrated theater troupe in the region and due to the Roberts' financial difficulties, Mrs. King paid Mrs. Roberts's hospital bill when Julia was born. Her parents married in 1955. Her mother filed for divorce in 1971; the divorce was finalized in early 1972. From 1972, Roberts lived in Smyrna, Georgia, where she attended Fitzhugh Lee Elementary School, Griffin Middle School, and Campbell High School. In 1972, her mother married Michael Motes, who was abusive and often unemployed; Roberts despised him. The couple had a daughter, Nancy, who died at 37 on February 9, 2014, of an apparent drug overdose. The marriage ended in 1983, with Betty Lou divorcing Motes on cruelty grounds; she had stated that marrying him was the biggest mistake of her life. Roberts's own father died of cancer when she was ten.Profile
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Roberts wanted to be a veterinarian as a child. She played the
clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitch ...
in her school band. After graduating from Smyrna's Campbell High School, she attended Georgia State University but did not graduate. She later headed to New York City to pursue a career in acting. Once there, she signed with the Click Modeling Agency and enrolled in acting classes.


Career


Early work and breakthrough (1987–1989)

Following her first television appearance as a juvenile rape victim in the first season of the series '' Crime Story'', with Dennis Farina, in the episode "The Survivor", broadcast on February 13, 1987, Roberts made her big screen debut with an appearance in the dramedy '' Satisfaction'' (1988), alongside
Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Tony Awards. In 2020, he was placed 7th on '' Th ...
and Justine Bateman, as a band member looking for a summer gig. She had filmed a small role in 1987 opposite her brother Eric, in ''
Blood Red The colour blood red is a dark shade of the colour red meant to resemble the colour of human blood (which is composed of oxygenated red erythrocytes, white leukocytes, and yellow blood plasma). It is the iron in hemoglobin specifically that ...
'', though she only had two words of dialogue, and it was not released until 1989. In 1988, Roberts had a role in the fourth-season finale of ''
Miami Vice ''Miami Vice'' is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann (director), Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo ...
'' and her first critical success with moviegoers came with the independent romantic comedy '' Mystic Pizza'',Stated on '' Inside the Actors Studio'', 1997 in which she played a Portuguese-American teenage girl working as a waitress at a pizza parlor.
Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert beca ...
found Roberts to be a "major beauty with a fierce energy" and observed that the film "may someday become known for the movie stars it showcased back before they became stars. All of the young actors in this movie have genuine gifts". In '' Steel Magnolias'' (1989), a
film adaptation A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dia ...
of Robert Harling's 1987 play of the same name, Roberts starred as a young bride with
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, alongside
Sally Field Sally Margaret Field (born November 6, 1946) is an American actress. She has received many awards and nominations, including two Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film Fe ...
,
Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album ...
,
Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty, April 24, 1934) is an American actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed and eccentric women, MacLaine has received numerous accolades over her seven-dec ...
and Daryl Hannah. The filmmakers were looking at both
Laura Dern Laura Elizabeth Dern (born February 10, 1967) is an American actress. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a BAFTA Award, and five Golden Globe Awards. Born to actor Bruce Dern and act ...
and Winona Ryder when the casting director insisted they see Roberts, who was then filming ''Mystic Pizza''. Harling stated: "She walked into the room and that smile lit everything up and I said 'that's my sister', so she joined the party and she was magnificent". Director
Herbert Ross Herbert David Ross (May 13, 1927 – October 9, 2001) was an American actor, choreographer, director and producer who worked predominantly in theater and film. He was nominated for two Academy Awards and a Tony Award. He is known for directing ...
was notoriously tough on newcomer Roberts, with Sally Field admitting that he "went after Julia with a vengeance. This was pretty much her first big film". Nevertheless, the film was a critical and commercial darling when it was released, and Roberts received both her first Academy Award nomination (as Best Supporting Actress) and first Golden Globe Award win ( Motion Picture Best Supporting Actress) for her performance.


Worldwide recognition (1990–1999)

Catapulting on her 1989 Academy Award nomination, Roberts gained further notice from worldwide audiences when she starred with Richard Gere in the CinderellaPygmalionesque story, ''
Pretty Woman ''Pretty Woman'' is a 1990 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall, from a screenplay by J. F. Lawton. The film stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, and features Héctor Elizondo, Ralph Bellamy (in his final performance) ...
'', in 1990, playing an assertive freelance hooker with a heart of gold. Roberts won the role after
Michelle Pfeiffer Michelle Marie Pfeiffer (; born April 29, 1958) is an American actress and producer. A prolific performer whose screen work spans over four decades, she became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars and popular sex symbols during the 1980s ...
, Molly Ringwald, Meg Ryan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Karen Allen, and Daryl Hannah (her co-star in '' Steel Magnolias'') turned it down. The role also earned her a second Oscar nomination, this time as Best Actress, and second Golden Globe Award win, as Motion Picture Best Actress (Musical or Comedy). ''Pretty Woman'' saw the highest number of ticket sales in the U.S. ever for a romantic comedy, and made $463.4million worldwide. The red dress Roberts wore in the film has been considered one of the most famous gowns in cinema. Her next film release following ''Pretty Woman'' was
Joel Schumacher Joel T. Schumacher (; August 29, 1939June 22, 2020) was an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Raised in New York City by his mother, Schumacher graduated from Parsons School of Design and originally became a fashion designer. H ...
's supernatural thriller ''
Flatliners ''Flatliners'' is a 1990 American psychological horror film directed by Joel Schumacher, produced by Michael Douglas and Rick Bieber, and written by Peter Filardi. It stars Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, William Baldwin, Oliver Platt, and K ...
'' (also 1990), in which Roberts starred as one of five students conducting clandestine experiments that produce near-death experiences. The production was met with a polarized critical reception, but made a profit at the box office and has since been considered a
cult film A cult film or cult movie, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage i ...
. In 1991, Roberts played a battered wife attempting to begin a new life in Iowa in the thriller '' Sleeping with the Enemy'', a winged, six-inch-tall tomboyish Tinkerbell in
Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Sp ...
's fantasy film '' Hook'' and an outgoing yet cautious nurse in her second collaboration with director Joel Schumacher, the romance drama '' Dying Young''. Although negative reviews greeted her 1991 outings, ''Sleeping with the Enemy'' grossed $175 million, ''Hook'' $300.9 million and ''Dying Young'' $82.3 million globally. Roberts took a two-year hiatus from the screen, during which she made no films other than a cameo appearance in
Robert Altman Robert Bernard Altman ( ; February 20, 1925 – November 20, 2006) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He was a five-time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director and is considered an enduring figure from the New ...
's '' The Player'' (1992). In early 1993, she was the subject of a ''
People A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of prope ...
'' magazine cover story asking, "What Happened to Julia Roberts?". Roberts starred with
Denzel Washington Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has been described as an actor who reconfigured "the concept of classic movie stardom". Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Washington ha ...
in the thriller '' The Pelican Brief'' (1993), based on John Grisham's 1992 novel of the same name. In it, she played a young law student who uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger. The film was a commercial success, grossing $195.2 million worldwide. None of her next film releases —'' I Love Trouble'' (1994), '' Prêt-à-Porter'' (1994) and '' Something to Talk About'' (1995)— were particularly well received by critics nor big box office draws. In 1996, she guest-starred in the second season of ''
Friends ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Li ...
'' (episode 13, "
The One After the Superbowl "The One After the Superbowl" is a double-length episode of the American television sitcom ''Friends second season. The episode premiered on NBC on January 28, 1996, as the lead-out for NBC's telecast of Super Bowl XXX. The main storyline of ...
"), and appeared with
Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Tony Awards. In 2020, he was placed 7th on '' Th ...
in the historical drama ''
Michael Collins Michael Collins or Mike Collins most commonly refers to: * Michael Collins (Irish leader) (1890–1922), Irish revolutionary leader, soldier, and politician * Michael Collins (astronaut) (1930–2021), American astronaut, member of Apollo 11 and ...
'', portraying
Kitty Kiernan Catherine Brigid Cronin (; 26 January 1892 – 25 July 1945) was an Irish woman widely known as the fiancée of Irish revolutionary leader and Chairman of the Provisional Government, Michael Collins. Early life Catherine Bridget ‘Kitty’ Ki ...
, the fiancée of the assassination, assassinated Irish revolutionary leader. Stephen Frears' ''Mary Reilly (film), Mary Reilly'', her other 1996 film, was a critical and commercial failure. By the late 1990s, Roberts enjoyed renewed success in the romantic comedy genre. In P. J. Hogan's ''
My Best Friend's Wedding ''My Best Friend's Wedding'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by P.J. Hogan from a screenplay by Ronald Bass. The film stars Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, and Rupert Everett. The film received generally positive ...
'' (1997), she starred opposite Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz and Rupert Everett, as a food critic who realizes she's in love with her best friend and tries to win him back after he decides to marry someone else. Considered to be one of the best romantic comedies of all time, Rotten Tomatoes gave the film an approval rating of 73% based on 59 reviews, with the critical consensus reading, "Thanks to a charming performance from Julia Roberts and a subversive spin on the genre, ''My Best Friend's Wedding'' is a refreshingly entertaining romantic comedy." The film was a 1997 in film, global box-office hit, earning $299.3 million. In her next film, Richard Donner's political thriller ''Conspiracy Theory (film), Conspiracy Theory'' (1997), Roberts starred with Mel Gibson as a United_States_Department_of_Justice, Justice Department attorney. Mick LaSalle of ''San Francisco Chronicle'' stated: "When all else fails, there are still the stars to look at—Roberts, who actually manages to do some fine acting, and Gibson, whose likability must be a sturdy thing indeed." The film, nevertheless, grossed a respectable $137 million. In 1998, Roberts appeared on the television series ''Sesame Street'' opposite the character Elmo, and starred in the drama ''Stepmom (1998 film), Stepmom'', alongside Susan Sarandon,. revolving around the complicated relationship between a terminally-ill mother and the future stepmother of her children. While reviews were mixed, the film made $159.7 million worldwide. Roberts paired with Hugh Grant for '' Notting Hill'' (1999), portraying a famous actress who falls in love with a struggling book store owner. The film displaced ''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' as the biggest British hit in the history of cinema, with earnings equalling $363million worldwide. An exemplar of modern romantic comedies in mainstream culture, the film was also received well by critics. CNN reviewer Paul Clinton called Roberts "the queen of the romantic comedy [whose] reign continues", and remarked: "''Notting Hill'' stands alone as another funny and heartwarming story about love against all odds." In 1999, she also reunited with Richard Gere and Garry Marshall for '' Runaway Bride'', in which she played a woman who has left a string of fiancés at the altar. Despite mixed reviews, ''Runaway Bride'' was another financial success, grossing $309.4million around the globe. Roberts was a guest star in "Empire (Law & Order episode), Empire", a Season 9 episode of the television series ''Law & Order'', with regular cast member Benjamin Bratt, who at the time, was her boyfriend. Her performance earned her a nomination for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.


Established actress (2000–2007)

Roberts became the first actress to be paid $20 million for a film, when she took on the role of real-life environmental activist Erin Brockovich in her fight against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) of California, in '' Erin Brockovich'' (2000). Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' wrote, "Roberts shows the emotional toll on Erin as she tries to stay responsible to her children and to a job that has provided her with a first taste of self-esteem", while ''Entertainment Weekly'' critic Owen Gleiberman felt that it was a "delight to watch Roberts, with her flirtatious sparkle and undertow of melancholy". ''Erin Brockovich'' made $256.3 million worldwide, and earned Roberts the Academy Award for Best Actress, among numerous other accolades. In 2000, she also became the first actress to make ''The Hollywood Reporter''s Power 100, list of the 50 most influential women in show business since the list had begun in 1992, and her Shoelace Productions company received a deal with Joe Roth. Her first film following ''Erin Brockovich'' was the road gangster comedy ''The Mexican'' (2001), giving her a chance to work with long-time friend Brad Pitt. The film's script was originally intended to be filmed as an independent film, independent production without major motion picture stars, but Roberts and Pitt, who had for some time been looking for a project they could do together, learned about it and decided to sign on. Though advertised as a typical romantic comedy star vehicle, the film does not focus solely on the actors' relationship and the two shared relatively little screen time together. ''The Mexican'' earned $66.8 million in North America. In Joe Roth's romantic comedy ''America's Sweethearts'' (2001), Roberts starred as the once-overweight sister and assistant of a Hollywood actress, along with Billy Crystal, John Cusack, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Critics' felt that despite its famous cast, the production lacked "sympathetic characters" and was "only funny in spurts." A commercial success, it grossed over $138 million worldwide, however. In her last film released in 2001, Roberts teamed with ''Erin Brockovich'' director Steven Soderbergh for ''Ocean's Eleven (2001 film), Ocean's Eleven'', a remake of the 1960 film Ocean's 11 (1960 film), of the same name, featuring an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon. Roberts played List of Ocean's Trilogy characters#Tess Ocean, Tess Ocean, the ex-wife of leader Danny Ocean (Clooney), originally played by Angie Dickinson. A success with critics and at the box office alike, ''Ocean's Eleven'' became the 2001 in film#Top-grossing films, fifth highest-grossing film of the year with a total of $450 million worldwide. Roberts received a record $25 million, the highest ever earned by an actress at that time, to portray a forward-thinking art history professor at Wellesley College in 1953, in Mike Newell (director), Mike Newell's drama '' Mona Lisa Smile''. The film garnered largely lukewarm reviews by critics, who found it "predictable and safe", but made over $141 million in theaters. In 2004, Roberts replaced Cate Blanchett in the role of an American photographer for Mike Nichols's film ''Closer (2004 film), Closer'', a romantic drama written by Patrick Marber, based on his award-winning Closer (play), 1997 play of the same name, co-starring Jude Law, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen. She next reprised the role of Tess Ocean in ''
Ocean's Twelve ''Ocean's Twelve'' is a 2004 American heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by George Nolfi. The second installment in the ''Ocean's'' film trilogy franchise and the sequel to ''Ocean's Eleven'' (2001), the film features a ...
'', which was deliberately much more unconventional than the first film, epitomized by a sequence in which Roberts's character impersonates the real-life Julia Roberts, due to what the film's characters believe is their strong resemblance. Though less well reviewed than ''Eleven'', the film became another major success at the box office, with a gross of $363 million worldwide. In 2005, she was featured in the music video for the single "Dreamgirl (Dave Matthews Band song), Dreamgirl" by the Dave Matthews Band. It was her first music video appearance. Roberts appeared in ''The Hollywood Reporters list of the 10 highest-paid actresses every year from 2002 (when the magazine began compiling its list) to 2005. In 2006, Roberts voiced a nurse ant in ''The Ant Bully (film), The Ant Bully'' and a barn spider in ''Charlotte's Web (2006 film), Charlotte's Web''. She made her Broadway debut on April 19, 2006, as Nan in a revival of Richard Greenberg's 1997 play ''Three Days of Rain'' opposite Bradley Cooper and Paul Rudd. Although the play grossed nearly $1million in ticket sales during its first week and was a commercial success throughout its limited run, her performance drew criticism. Ben Brantley of ''The New York Times'' described Roberts as being fraught with "self-consciousness (especially in the first act) [and] only glancingly acquainted with the two characters she plays." Brantley also criticized the overall production, writing that "it's almost impossible to discern its artistic virtues from this wooden and splintered interpretation, directed by Joe Mantello." Writing in the ''New York Post'', Clive Barnes declared, "Hated the play. To be sadly honest, even hated her. At least I liked the rain—even if three days of it can seem an eternity." In Mike Nichols' biographical drama '' Charlie Wilson's War'' (2007), Roberts starred as socialite Joanne Herring, the love interest of Democratic Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson (Texas politician), Charles Wilson, opposite Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman . The film received considerable acclaim, made $119.5 million worldwide, and earned Roberts her sixth Golden Globe nomination.


Career fluctuations (2008–2016)

The independent drama ''Fireflies in the Garden'', in which Roberts played a mother whose death sets the story in motion, was screened at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival before being shown in European cinemas—it did not get a North American release until 2011. Roberts played a CIA agent collaborating with another spy to carry out a complicated con, opposite Clive Owen, in the comic thriller ''Duplicity (film), Duplicity'' (2009). Despite mixed reviews and moderate box office returns, critic A. O. Scott praised her performance: "Ms. Roberts has almost entirely left behind the coltish, America's-sweetheart mannerisms, except when she uses them strategically, to disarm or confuse. [...] She is, at 41, unmistakably in her prime". She received her seventh Golden Globe nomination for her role. In 2010, Roberts played a U.S. Army captain on a one-day leave, as part of a large ensemble cast, in the romantic comedy ''
Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, thr ...
'', and starred as an author finding herself following a divorce in the film adaptation of '' Eat Pray Love''. While she received $3 million up front against 3 percent of the gross for her six-minute role in ''Valentine's Day'', ''Eat Pray Love'' had the highest debut at the box office for Roberts in a top-billed role since ''America's Sweethearts''. She appeared as the teacher of a middle-aged man returning to education in the romantic comedy ''Larry Crowne'', opposite Tom Hanks, who also served as the director. The film was poorly received by critics and audiences, although Roberts's comedic performance was praised. In ''Mirror Mirror (film), Mirror Mirror'' (2012), the Tarsem Singh adaptation of ''Snow White'', Roberts portrayed Queen (Snow White), Queen Clementianna, Snow White's evil stepmother, opposite Lily Collins. Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' felt that she tried "way too hard" in her role, while Katey Rich of ''Cinema Blend'' observed that she "takes relish in her wicked [portrayal] but could have gone even further with it". ''Mirror Mirror'' made $183 million globally. In 2013, Roberts starred alongside Meryl Streep and Ewan McGregor in the black comedy drama '' August: Osage County'', about a dysfunctional family that re-unites into the familial house when their patriarch suddenly disappears. Her performance earned her nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Screen Actors Guild Award, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress, Critics' Choice Award, and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, amongst other accolades. It was her fourth Academy Award nomination. In 2014, Roberts starred as Dr. Emma Brookner, a character based on Dr. Linda Laubenstein, in the television adaptation of Larry Kramer's AIDS-era play, ''The Normal Heart'', which aired on HBO; the film was critically acclaimed and ''Vanity Fair'', in its review, wrote: "Roberts, meanwhile, hums with righteous, ''Erin Brokovich''-ian anger. Between this and ''August: Osage County'', she's carving out a nice new niche for herself, playing brittle women who show their love and concern through explosive temper". Her role garnered her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. Roberts narrated "Women in Hollywood", an episode of the second season of ''Makers: Women Who Make America'', in 2014, and appeared in Givenchy's spring–summer campaign in 2015. She starred as a grieving mother opposite Nicole Kidman and Chiwetel Ejiofor in ''Secret in Their Eyes'' (2015), a remake of the The Secret in Their Eyes, 2009 Argentine film of the same name, both based on the novel ''La pregunta de sus ojos'' by author Eduardo Sacheri. Unlike the original film, the American version received negative reviews and failed to find an audience. Donald Clarke of ''Irish Times'' concluded that a "sound job" by the cast "can't quite shake the whiff of compromise that hangs around the project". In 2016, Roberts reunited with Garry Marshall and reportedly received a $3 million fee for a four-day shoot, playing an accomplished author who gave her child for adoption, in the romantic comedy ''Mother's Day (2016 film), Mother's Day'', which had a lackluster critical and commercial response. Her next film release was Jodie Foster's thriller ''Money Monster'', in which she starred as a television director, alongside George Clooney and Jack O'Connell (actor), Jack O'Connell. Sandra Hall of ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' stated: "It may be Hollywood melodrama but it's top of the range, giving Clooney and Roberts every opportunity to demonstrate the value of star power." The film made a respectable $93.3 million worldwide.


Recent roles (2017–present)

In '' Wonder'' (2017), the film adaptation of the Wonder (Palacio novel), 2012 novel of the same name by R. J. Palacio, Roberts played the mother of a boy with Treacher Collins syndrome. ''The Times'' felt that she "lifts every one of her scenes in ''Wonder'' to near-sublime places". With a worldwide gross of $305.9 million, ''Wonder'' emerged as one of Roberts's most widely seen films. In 2017, she also voiced a motherly Smurfs, Smurf leader in the animated film ''Smurfs: The Lost Village''. Roberts portrayed the mother of a troubled young man in Peter Hedges's drama ''Ben Is Back'' (2018). Shaun Kitchener of ''Daily Express'' remarked: "Roberts is often the best, or one of the best, things about any film she's in —and ''Ben Is Back'' is no different". The role of a caseworker at a secret government facility, in the first season of the psychological thriller series ''
Homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States, Canada and Liberia. ...
'', was Roberts' first regular television project. The series, which premiered on Amazon Video in November 2018, garnered acclaim from critics, who concluded it was an "impressive small-screen debut" for Roberts that "balances its haunting mystery with a frenetic sensibility that grips and doesn't let go." She received a Golden Globe nomination for Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama, Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama. Roberts reunited with George Clooney for the romantic comedy '' Ticket to Paradise'', which was released by Universal Pictures on October 21, 2022. She also played
Martha Mitchell Martha Elizabeth Beall Mitchell (September 2, 1918 – May 31, 1976) was the wife of John N. Mitchell, United States Attorney General under President Richard Nixon. Her public comments and interviews during the Watergate scandal were frank and r ...
, a controversial figure throughout the Watergate scandal, in the political thriller television series '' Gaslit'', based on the first season of the podcast ''Slow Burn (podcast), Slow Burn'' by Leon Neyfakh. Roberts will also appear as Amanda in the upcoming film ''Leave the World Behind (film), Leave the World Behind'', appearing alongside Ethan Hawke. The movie is an adaptation of Leave the World Behind (novel), the novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam. The film is produced by Barack Obama, Barack and Michelle Obama’s company, Higher Ground Productions.


Other ventures


Philanthropy

Roberts has contributed to United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF as well as other charitable organizations. Her six-day visit to Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1995, as she said, "to educate myself", was expected to trigger an outburst of donations —$10 million in aid was sought at the time— by UNICEF officials. In 2006, she became a spokeswoman for Earth Biofuels as well as chair of the company's newly formed advisory board promoting the use of renewable fuels. In 2013, she was part of a Gucci campaign, "Chime for Change", that aims to spread female empowerment. In 2000, Roberts narrated a documentary about Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder, designed to help raise public awareness about the disease, and in 2014, she was the voice of Mother Nature in a short film for Conservation International intended to raise Climate change education, awareness about climate change.


Production company

Roberts runs the production company Red Om Films (Red Om is "Moder" spelled backwards, after her husband's last name) with her sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan, and Marisa Yeres Gill. Through Red Om, Roberts has served as an executive producer for various projects she has starred in such as ''Eat Pray Love'' and ''Homecoming'', as well as for the first four films of the ''
American Girl American Girl is an American line of dolls released on May 5, 1986, by Pleasant Company. The dolls portray eight- to fourteen-year-old boys and girls of a variety of ethnicities, faiths, and social classes from different time periods throughou ...
'' film series (based on the ''American Girl'' line of dolls), released between 2004 and 2008.


Endorsements

In 2006, Roberts signed an endorsement deal with fashion label Gianfranco Ferre, valued at $6 million. She was photographed by Mario Testino in Los Angeles for the brand's advertising campaign, which was distributed in Europe, Asia and Australia. Since 2009, Roberts has acted as
Lancôme Lancôme () is a French luxury perfumes and cosmetics house that distributes products internationally. Lancôme is part of the L'Oréal Luxury Products division, which is its parent company and offers luxury skin care, fragrances, and makeup ...
's global ambassador, a role in which she has been involved in the development and promotion of the brand's range of cosmetics and beauty products. She initially signed a five-year extension with the company for $50 million in 2010.


Personal life


Relationships and family

Roberts had romantic relationships with actors Jason Patric,
Liam Neeson William John Neeson (born 7 June 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Tony Awards. In 2020, he was placed 7th on '' Th ...
, Kiefer Sutherland, Dylan McDermott, and Matthew Perry. She was briefly engaged to Sutherland; they broke up three days before their scheduled wedding on June 11, 1991. On June 25, 1993, she married country singer Lyle Lovett; the wedding took place at St. James Lutheran Church in Marion, Indiana. They separated in March 1995 and subsequently divorced. From 1998 to 2001, Roberts dated actor Benjamin Bratt. Roberts and her husband, cameraman Daniel Moder, met on the set of her film ''The Mexican'' in 2000 while she was still dating Bratt. At the time, Moder was married to Vera Steimberg. There were accusations of husband stealing. He filed for divorce a little over a year later, and after it was finalized, he and Roberts wed on July 4, 2002, at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico. Together, they have three children: twins, a daughter and a son, born in November 2004, and another son born in June 2007.


Religion

In 2010, Roberts said she was Hindu, having converted for "spiritual satisfaction". Roberts is a devotee of the guru Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji), a picture of whom drew Roberts to Hinduism. In September 2009, Swami Daram Dev of Ashram Hari Mandir in Pataudi, where Roberts was shooting '' Eat Pray Love'', gave her children new names after Hindu gods: Laxmi for Hazel, Ganesh for Phinnaeus and Krishna Balram for Henry.


Filmography and accolades

Roberts' films that have earned the most at the box office, , include: Roberts has received four
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
nominations, winning for Best Actress at the 73rd Academy Awards, for her titular portrayal in ''Erin Brockovich'', which additionally earned her a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She won Golden Globe Awards for her performances in ''Steel Magnolias'' and ''Pretty Woman'', and as of 2019, has garnered eight nominations. Roberts received two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, one for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, for her guest-role on ''Law & Order'', and the other for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie, for her performance in '' The Normal Heart''.


References


Further reading

* Mark Bego. ''Julia Roberts: America's Sweetheart'' (New York: AMI Books, 2003). . * Paul Donnelley. ''Julia Roberts Confidential: The Unauthorised Biography'' (London: Virgin, 2003). . * James Spada. ''Julia: Her Life'' (New York: St Martin's Press, 2004). * Frank Sanello. ''Julia Roberts: Pretty Superstar'' (Edinburgh: Mainstream 2010). .


External links

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