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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, 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) * Hollywood, ...
's most bankable stars. After an early breakthrough with appearances in ''
Mystic Pizza ''Mystic Pizza'' is a 1988 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Donald Petrie in his feature directorial debut, and starring Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts and Lili Taylor. It follows the coming-of-age of three young Portuguese-America ...
'' (1988) and ''
Steel Magnolias ''Steel Magnolias'' is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Academy Award winner Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. The picture is a film adaptation ...
'' (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), La ...
'' (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'' (1997), '' Notting Hill'' (1999) and '' Runaway Bride'' (1999), before winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the biographical drama '' Erin Brockovich'' (2000). Roberts achieved further film success in the following decades with '' Ocean's Eleven'' (2001), '' Ocean's Twelve'' (2004), '' Charlie Wilson's War'' (2007), '' Valentine's Day'' (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
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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 '' Homecoming'' (2018), and portrayed Martha Mitchell 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 Lancôme 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'' 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, 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 (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, 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 in ...
, 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
Info 2 India
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 pitches ...
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 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 gi ...
'', 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'' and her first critical success with moviegoers came with the independent romantic comedy ''
Mystic Pizza ''Mystic Pizza'' is a 1988 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Donald Petrie in his feature directorial debut, and starring Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts and Lili Taylor. It follows the coming-of-age of three young Portuguese-America ...
'',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 ''Steel Magnolias'' is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Academy Award winner Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. The picture is a film adaptation ...
'' (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 dial ...
of Robert Harling's 1987 play of the same name, Roberts starred as a young bride with diabetes, 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 F ...
, Dolly Parton,
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 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 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), La ...
'', 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 List of Michelle Pfeiffer performances, screen work spans over four decades, she became one of Hollywood's most bankable stars and ...
, Molly Ringwald, Meg Ryan, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Karen Allen, and Daryl Hannah (her co-star in ''
Steel Magnolias ''Steel Magnolias'' is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross and starring Academy Award winner Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts. The picture is a film adaptation ...
'') 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'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 Ke ...
'' (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 ...
. 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. Spie ...
'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 H ...
's '' The Player'' (1992). In early 1993, she was the subject of a '' People'' 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, Lisa ...
'' (episode 13, " The One After the Superbowl"), and appeared with Liam Neeson in the historical drama '' Michael Collins'', portraying Kitty Kiernan, the fiancée of the
assassinated Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have a ...
Irish revolutionary leader. Stephen Frears' '' 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 Paul John "P. J." Hogan (born 30 November 1962) is an AACTA Award-winning Australian film director and writer. Early life Hogan was born in Brisbane, Queensland. As a teenager, he lived on the North Coast of New South Wales and attended Mt ...
's '' My Best Friend's Wedding'' (1997), she starred opposite
Dermot Mulroney Dermot Mulroney (born October 31, 1963) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in romantic comedy, western, and drama films. Appearing on screen since 1986, he is known for his work in various films such as '' Young Guns'' (1988), '' Stay ...
, 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 global box-office hit, earning $299.3 million. In her next film, Richard Donner's political thriller ''
Conspiracy Theory A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups, often political in motivation, when other explanations are more probable.Additional sources: * * * * The term has a nega ...
'' (1997), Roberts starred with Mel Gibson as a
Justice Department A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...
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'', 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 Paul Clinton (1953 – January 30, 2006) was an American film critic. He served as CNN.com film critic for 20 years. He was the co-founder of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA). Clinton was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended Ohio St ...
called Roberts "the queen of the romantic comedy
hose A hose is a flexible hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called ''pipes'' (the word ''pipe'' usually refers to a rigid tube, whereas a hose is usually a flexible one), or more generally '' ...
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", a Season 9 episode of the television series ''
Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, launching the '' Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire run on NBC, premiering on ...
'', 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 The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is an American investor-owned utility (IOU). The company is headquartered in the Pacific Gas & Electric Building, in San Francisco, California. PG&E provides natural gas and electricity to 5.2 milli ...
(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 Owen Gleiberman (born February 24, 1959) is an American film critic who has been chief film critic for ''Variety'' magazine since May 2016, a title he shares with . Previously, Gleiberman wrote for ''Entertainment Weekly'' from 1990 until 2014. ...
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 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 William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. He is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. ...
. The film's script was originally intended to be filmed as an 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 Steven Andrew Soderbergh (; born January 14, 1963) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor. A pioneer of modern independent cinema, Soderbergh is an acclaimed and prolific filmmaker. Soderbergh's direc ...
for '' Ocean's Eleven'', a remake of the 1960 film of the same name, featuring an
ensemble cast In a dramatic production, an ensemble cast is one that is composed of multiple principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.Random House: ensemble acting Linked 2013-07-17 Structure In contrast to ...
including
George Clooney George Timothy Clooney (born May 6, 1961) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by George Clooney, numerous accolades, including a British Academy Film Awards, British Academy Film A ...
,
Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. He is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. ...
, and Matt Damon. Roberts played 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 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 Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant as a female seminary, it is a member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges, an unofficial g ...
in 1953, in 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 Catherine Elise Blanchett (; born 14 May 1969) is an Australian actor. Regarded as one of the finest performers of her generation, she is known for her versatile work across independent films, blockbusters, and the stage. She has received nu ...
in the role of an American photographer for Mike Nichols's film '' Closer'', a romantic drama written by Patrick Marber, based on his award-winning 1997 play of the same name, co-starring
Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972) is an English actor. He received a British Academy Film Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, two Tony Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. In 2007, he received an Honorary Césa ...
, Natalie Portman and
Clive Owen Clive Owen (born 3 October 1964) is an English actor. He first gained recognition in the United Kingdom for playing the lead role in the ITV series '' Chancer'' from 1990 to 1991. He received critical acclaim for his work in the film '' Close ...
. She next reprised the role of Tess Ocean in '' Ocean's Twelve'', 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 Dream Girl or dreamgirl may refer to: Film, theater, and television Film * ''The Dream Girl'' (film), a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille * ''Dream Girl'' (1948 film), an American film adapted from the play by Elmer R ...
" 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'' and a barn spider in ''
Charlotte's Web ''Charlotte's Web'' is a book of children's literature by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams; it was published on October 15, 1952, by Harper & Brothers. The novel tells the story of a livestock pig named Wilbur and his ...
''. 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) ndonly 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 Joanne King Herring (born July 3, 1929) is an American socialite, businesswoman, political activist, philanthropist, diplomat, and former television talk show host. Originally from Houston, Texas, she is best known for influencing policy throug ...
, the love interest of Democratic Texas Congressman 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 Clive Owen (born 3 October 1964) is an English actor. He first gained recognition in the United Kingdom for playing the lead role in the ITV series '' Chancer'' from 1990 to 1991. He received critical acclaim for his work in the film '' Close ...
, in the comic thriller '' Duplicity'' (2009). Despite mixed reviews and moderate box office returns, critic
A. O. Scott Anthony Oliver Scott (born July 10, 1966) is an American journalist and cultural critic. He has been chief film critic for ''The New York Times'' since 2004, a title he shares with Manohla Dargis. Early life Scott was born on July 10, 1966 in ...
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 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 ...
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'', 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'' (2012), the Tarsem Singh adaptation of '' Snow White'', Roberts portrayed 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 ortrayalbut 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 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 ...
,
Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1952 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...
, 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 Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
; 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 2009 Argentine film of the same name, both based on the novel ''La pregunta de sus ojos'' by author
Eduardo Sacheri Eduardo Alfredo Sacheri (born Castelar, 13 December 1967) is an Argentine writer and professor of History, graduated in the National University of Luján. He is best known for his novel ''La pregunta de sus ojos'' which became the basis for the O ...
. 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'', 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 George Timothy Clooney (born May 6, 1961) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by George Clooney, numerous accolades, including a British Academy Film Awards, British Academy Film A ...
and 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 2012 novel of the same name by
R. J. Palacio Raquel Jaramillo Palacio (born July 13, 1963) is an American author and graphic designer. She is the author of several novels for children, including the best-selling ''Wonder'', which was adapted into a 2017 film starring Julia Roberts and Ow ...
, 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 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 The ''Daily Express'' is a national daily United Kingdom middle-market newspaper printed in tabloid format. Published in London, it is the flagship of Express Newspapers, owned by publisher Reach plc. It was first published as a broadsheet i ...
'' 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'', 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 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, a controversial figure throughout the Watergate scandal, in the political thriller television series '' Gaslit'', based on the first season of the podcast '' Slow Burn'' by Leon Neyfakh. Roberts will also appear as Amanda in the upcoming film '' Leave the World Behind'', appearing alongside Ethan Hawke. The movie is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by
Rumaan Alam Rumaan Alam (born 1977) is an American writer. His parents emigrated from Bangladesh to the United States in the early 1970s. Alam, one of four siblings, was born in 1977 and grew up in a suburb of Washington, D.C. He studied writing at Oberlin ...
. The film is produced by
Barack Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
and
Michelle Obama Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. She is married t ...
’s company, Higher Ground Productions.


Other ventures


Philanthropy

Roberts has contributed to UNICEF as well as other charitable organizations. Her six-day visit to
Port-au-Prince Port-au-Prince ( , ; ht, Pòtoprens ) is the capital and most populous city of Haiti. The city's population was estimated at 987,311 in 2015 with the metropolitan area estimated at a population of 2,618,894. The metropolitan area is define ...
,
Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
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 Conservation International (CI) is an American nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. CI's work focuses on science, policy and partnership with businesses, governments and communities. The organ ...
intended to raise 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 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 ...
'' line of dolls), released between 2004 and 2008.


Endorsements

In 2006, Roberts signed an endorsement deal with fashion label
Gianfranco Ferre Gianfranco is a compound Italian given name, consisting of Gian- and Franco. ''Gian-'' comes from Giovanni and is used in compound names. It is closest to John or French Jean. Gianni means "God is gracious" and Franco means "Free man" or "Frenchman ...
, 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 Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. Since 2009, Roberts has acted as Lancôme'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


Ancestry

On a 2023 episode of ''
Finding Your Roots ''Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'' is a documentary television series hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. that premiered on March 25, 2012, on PBS. In each episode, celebrities are presented with a "book of life" that is compiled with ...
'', Roberts learned that the surname of her biological paternal great-great-grandfather was actually Mitchell, not Roberts. Roberts also learned her ancestors owned slaves: "You have to figure, if you are from the South, you're on one side of it or the other. It just seems very typical of that time, unfortunately. ... You can’t turn your back on history, even when you become a part of it in a way that doesn't align with your personal compass." Roberts is a distant cousin of fellow actor Edward Norton.


Relationships and family

Roberts had romantic relationships with actors Jason Patric, Liam Neeson,
Kiefer Sutherland Kiefer William Sutherland (born 21 December 1966) is a British-Canadian actor and musician. He is best known for his starring role as Jack Bauer in the Fox drama series '' 24'' (2001–2010, 2014), for which he won an Emmy Award, a Golden Glo ...
, 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 Lyle Pearce Lovett (born November 1, 1957) Lyle Lovett Pageat Allmusic – Lovett's Genre and Styles. Retrieved February 2, 2007 is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. Active since 1980, he has recorded 13 albums and relea ...
; the wedding took place at St. James Lutheran Church in
Marion, Indiana Marion is a city in Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,948 as of the 2010 United States Census. The city is the county seat of Grant County. It is named for Francis Marion, a brigadier general from South Carolina in the ...
. 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 Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
, 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 Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with ''Maya'' ("Illusion"). Alo ...
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 nominations, winning for Best Actress at the 73rd Academy Awards, for her titular portrayal in ''Erin Brockovich'', which additionally earned her a
Golden Globe 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 ...
, a BAFTA Award and a
Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1952 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...
. 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 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 ...
nominations, one for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, for her guest-role on ''
Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, launching the '' Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire run on NBC, premiering on ...
'', and the other for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie, for her performance in '' The Normal Heart''.


References


Further reading

*
Mark Bego Mark Joseph Bego (born 23 September 1952, in Pontiac, Michigan) is an author known for his biographies focusing on the rock & roll and show business genres. Bego has written a total of 59 books, two of which have gone on to become New York Times ...
. ''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 Frank Sanello (born May 17, 1952) is an author and journalist who writes about the entertainment industry, cultural anthropology, politics, social issues, and revisionist history. Early life and career Born and raised in Joliet, Illinois, he ...
. ''Julia Roberts: Pretty Superstar'' (Edinburgh: Mainstream 2010). .


External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Julia 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses 1967 births Actors Studio alumni Actresses from Atlanta Actresses from Georgia (U.S. state) Actresses from New Mexico American female models American film actresses American film producers American Hindus American people of English descent American people of French descent American people of German descent American people of Irish descent American people of Scottish descent American people of Swedish descent American people of Welsh descent American stage actresses American television actresses American voice actresses American women film producers Best Actress Academy Award winners Julia Best Actress BAFTA Award winners Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners Converts to Hinduism from Christianity Former Roman Catholics Georgia State University alumni Living people Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Screen Actors Guild Award winners People from Smyrna, Georgia People from Taos, New Mexico