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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 by Luca Guadagnino, available on Amazon Prime Video. Throwback to the journey of this radiant, adored actress, acclaimed since her debut with rare intensity.
by Violaine Schütz,
and Jordan Bako.
Published on 29 August 2025. Updated on 14 January 2026.
1. Pretty Woman, the chaotic set of a cult classic
Before Pretty Woman (1990) turned her into a household name, Julia Roberts‘s name only appeared in a handful of productions (Steel Magnolias, Mystic Pizza). And the experience 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 the actress’ fingers to make her laugh.
While filming a love scene, Julia Roberts, who plays a prostitute in love with a wealthy businessman in this romantic comedy, was so tense that a vein bulged on her forehead. Richard Gere gave her a forehead massage to make it disappear.
Since then, the role of intimacy coordinator has been created to help actors and actresses manage the anxiety that can arise when filming sex scenes. Moreover, the film’s creative choices, such as the portrayal of the male lead as a dominant man looking to “keep” his lover, would likely not be received the same way today in a post-#MeToo era.
2. Julia Roberts embraces her wrinkles
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, Julia Roberts doesn’t want her skin to resist the test of time. The actress has publicly explained she never used Botox. “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,” she told Elle magazine in 2010.
“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.
3. “Hard” to work with or simply 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.
4. She is committed to various causes
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 a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1994, she was honored by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), an organization supporting LGBTQ+ students, for her commitment to fighting discrimination in 2014. She is also known for her longstanding support of numerous environmental initiatives focusing on renewable energy.
More recently, in 2019, Michelle Obama chose the Lancôme and Chopard ambassador to accompany her on a humanitarian trip to Vietnam aimed at promoting girls’ education. While in some of her romantic comedies Julia Roberts played women who are passively waiting for Prince Charming, in real life she has always been the protagonist of her life – a modern and fearless woman.
5. A wisdom seeker, who converted to hinduism
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.
6. Julia Roberts, “a pop culture icon” acclaimed at the Césars
On February 28th, 2025, Julia Roberts received an award for lifetime achievement at the 50th ceremony of the César Awards. 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 58, the American actress remains America’s sweetheart, a superstar, whose large smile can lift the spirits of audiences and make them forgive her less compelling roles (Eat Pray Love, Full Frontal). Julia Roberts‘s upcoming projects may even win over her most reluctant critics.
7. The actress will star Luca Guadagnino’s et James Gray’s films
Following in the footsteps of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Daniel Craig, the radiant star recently seen in Ticket to Paradise, is taking the lead in Luca Guadagnino‘s new film. Presented out of competition at the Venice Film Festival on August 29th, 2025, the drama After The Hunt showcases the actress as a university professor under pressure, starring alongside Andrew Garfield, Chloë Sevigny, and Ayo Edebiri.
After their 2023 collaboration in Leave the World Behind, the American actress will also reunite with director Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) a new thriller, Panic Carefully, starring Elizabeth Olsen. Another thriller is on her schedule, this time directed by James Gray (Armageddon Time). Titled Kill Your Darlings, this adaptation of Peter Swanson’s bestselling novel, will star Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, and Adam Driver.
After The Hunt (2025) by Luca Guadagnino, available on Amazon Prime Video.
