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How Julia Roberts became one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars
After being awarded an honorary César for her lifetime achievements earlier this year, the iconic actress Julia Roberts is now starring in After the Hunt. Luca Guadagnino’s film will come out on Prime Video this November 20th, 2025. Throwback to the journey of this radiant, widely adored star, acclaimed with rare intensity since her debuts.
By Violaine Schütz,
and Jordan Bako.
Published on 29 August 2025. Updated on 19 November 2025.
Julia Roberts, “a pop culture icon” acclaimed at the César Awards
On February 28th, 2025, Julia Roberts was selected for a lifetime achievement award during the 50th César Awards ceremony. In a press release, the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma stated: “Julia Roberts is not only a movie star; she is also an icon of pop culture, and her influence extends far beyond her performances.”
At 57, the American actress remains America’s sweetheart, a superstar, whose big smile can lift the spirits of audiences and make them forgive her less compelling films (Eat Pray Love, Full Frontal). Julia Roberts‘s upcoming projects may even win over her most reluctant critics.
Set to star in Luca Guadagnino’s and James Gray’s films
Following in the footsteps of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Daniel Craig, Julia Roberts is taking the lead in an upcoming film by Luca Guadagnino. Presented out of competition at the Venice Film Festival on August 29th, 2025, and scheduled for release on November 20th, 2025, the drama After The Hunt showcases the actress as a university professor under pressure, alongside Andrew Garfield, Chloë Sevigny, and Ayo Edebiri.
She will also work again with director Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) after Leave the World Behind (2023). This time it will be for the thriller Panic Carefully, starring Elizabeth Olsen. Besides, the actress will share the screen with Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, and Adam Driver in an adaptation of a bestseller by Peter Swanson…
All the more reason to revisit the lesser-known aspects of the life and career of this radiant star, adored since Pretty Woman (1990), and recently seen in Ticket to Paradise alongside her friend George Clooney.
Pretty Woman: A Cult Classic filmed on a chaotic set
Before Pretty Woman (1990) turned her into a household name, Roberts had only a few credits to her name (Steel Magnolias, Mystic Pizza). The shoot, however, was far from smooth. Struggling with intense anxiety, she required frequent support from the film crew. Director Garry Marshall tickled her feet off-camera to make her laugh during a scene, and Richard Gere ad-libbed the famous moment where he snaps the jewelry box shut on her fingers.
During a love scene, Julia Roberts was so tense that a vein visibly bulged on her forehead—prompting Gere to massage it away. These moments predate the advent of intimacy coordinators, now standard on film sets to help actors through emotionally charged scenes. The film’s gender dynamics, in which a wealthy man “rescues” a sex worker, would likely face more scrutiny today in the post-#Metoo era.
Julia Roberts Embraces Her Age
Her large smile, which is insured for $30 millions – is as iconic as the Mona Lisa’s. Elected “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” multiple times, she was Hollywood’s highest-paid actress for years, earning $20 million for Erin Brockovich (2000) by Steven Soderbergh, which also earned her an Oscar.
Yet, Roberts has publicly eschewed cosmetic interventions. In a 2010 interview with Elle US, she said, “I want my kids to know when I’m angry, when I’m happy, and when I’m confused. Your face tells a story—and it shouldn’t be the story of your trip to the doctor.”
“It’s sad that we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society. Women don’t even give themselves a chance to see what they’ll look like as older individuals.” Julia Roberts
In the same interview, she lamented, “It’s sad that we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society. Women don’t even give themselves a chance to see what they’ll look like as older individuals.” Four years later, in You Magazine, she admitted, “By Hollywood standards, I think I took a big risk by not getting a facelift.”
Still, her refusal to comply with industry norms hasn’t slowed down her career. She is still landing major roles in high-profile films, like Ticket to Paradise (2022) with George Clooney and the Netflix movie Leave the World Behind (2023), produced by Barack Obama. She remains the favorite amongst American and French fans alike.
Difficult to work with or just a powerful woman?
She played the clarinet as a child, once aspired to be a vet or a journalist, and now practices yoga to stay grounded. She’s also a passionate knitter on set. But despite her sunny image, some colleagues claim she wasn’t always easy to work with. On the set of Steven Spielberg’s feature Hook (1991), she reportedly caused the director and fellow actors (Dustin Hoffman and the Robin Williams) to deal with immense tension on set for 116 days of shooting.
She reportedly earned the nickname “Tinker Hell”, a play on the name of her character Tinker Bell, during a tough period of depression following a breakup with actor Kiefer Sutherland. She was often late, emotionally volatile, and clashed with Steven Spielberg, allegedly described him as “disgusting.” But it’s worth questioning how much of this was exaggerated. Women in Hollywood are frequently labeled “difficult” simply for asserting themselves in a still male-dominated industry.
Fiercely committed and outspoken
Roberts’ feminist stance extends beyond her roles. In 2017, she brought her daughter Hazel to the first Women’s March in protest of Donald Trump’s inauguration. A year earlier, she made waves at Cannes by walking the red carpet barefoot, rejecting the festival’s high-heel dress code.
Appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1994, she was honored in 2014 by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) for her support of LGBTQ+ students. A committed environmentalist, she champions renewable energy causes. In 2019, Michelle Obama invited her on a humanitarian mission to Vietnam promoting girls’ education.
In her rom-coms, Roberts often played women waiting for Prince Charming—but in real life, she’s proven to be a modern, bold heroine.
A seeker of wisdom turned practicing hindu
Born in 1967 in Smyrna, Georgia, to a Baptist father and a Catholic mother, Roberts was raised in the Catholic faith. But after filming Eat Pray Love (2010) and meeting a guru in India, she converted to Hinduism.
She now attends temple with her family and gave her children Hindu names—Laxmi (Hazel), Ganesh (Phinnaeus), and Krishna Balram (Henry). She fosters spiritual awareness in her home, raising her kids away from social media and disciplinary rigidity, focusing instead on dialogue, joy, and harmony.
After The Hunt de Luca Guadagnino, coming out on November 20th, 2025, on Amazon Prime Video.
