{"id":664939,"date":"2026-01-14T13:46:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T12:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/numero.com\/non-classifiee\/how-julia-roberts-became-one-of-hollywoods-most-beloved-stars\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T13:46:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T12:46:17","slug":"how-julia-roberts-became-one-of-hollywoods-most-beloved-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/numero.com\/en\/culture-en\/movies\/how-julia-roberts-became-one-of-hollywoods-most-beloved-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"How Julia Roberts became one of Hollywood\u2019s most beloved stars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Julia Roberts holding her Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress at the 47th Golden Globes, Beverly Hilton Hotel, California, January 20, 1990. \u00a9 Darlene Hammond\/Getty Images. \n \n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

1. Pretty Woman<\/em>, the chaotic set of a cult classic<\/h3>

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Before Pretty Woman<\/em><\/strong> (1990) turned her into a household name, Julia Roberts<\/strong>‘s name only appeared in a handful of productions (Steel Magnolias<\/em>, Mystic Pizza<\/em>). And the experience was far from smooth. Struggling with intense anxiety, she required frequent support from the film crew. Director Garry Marshall<\/strong> tickled her feet off-camera to make her laugh during a scene, and Richard Gere<\/strong> ad-libbed the famous moment where he snaps the jewelry box shut on the actress’ fingers to make her laugh.<\/p><\/p>\n\n

While filming a love scene, Julia Roberts<\/strong>, 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<\/strong> gave her a forehead massage to make it disappear.<\/p>\n\n

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\u2019s creative choices, such as the portrayal of the male lead as a dominant man looking to \u201ckeep\u201d his lover, would likely not be received the same way today in a post-#MeToo<\/strong> era.<\/p>\n\n

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Julia Roberts at the press conference for The Pelican Brief in 1993. Photo by Jeffrey Markowitz\/Sygma via Getty Images. \n \n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

2. Julia Roberts embraces her wrinkles<\/h2>\n\n

Her large smile, which is insured for $30 millions – is as iconic as the Mona Lisa<\/strong>\u2019s. Elected \u201cWorld\u2019s Most Beautiful Woman\u201d multiple times, she was Hollywood\u2019s highest-paid actress for years, earning $20 million for Erin Brockovich<\/em><\/strong> (2000) by Steven Soderbergh<\/strong>, which also earned her an Oscar.<\/p><\/p>\n\n

Yet, Julia Roberts<\/strong> doesn’t want her skin to resist the test of time. The actress has publicly explained she never used Botox. \u201cI want my kids to know when I\u2019m angry, when I\u2019m happy, and when I\u2019m confused. Your face tells a story\u2014and it shouldn\u2019t be the story of your trip to the doctor,<\/em>\u201d she told Elle magazine<\/em> in 2010.<\/p><\/p>\n\n

\"Julia\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Julia Roberts attends the Jacquemus “Les Sculptures” show at Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-De-Vence on January 29th, 2024. \u00a9 Arnold Jerocki\/WireImage via Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s sad that we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society. Women don\u2019t even give themselves a chance to see what they\u2019ll look like as older individuals.\u201d<\/em> Julia Roberts<\/h2><\/h2>\n\n

In the same interview, she lamented, \u201cIt\u2019s sad that we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society. Women don\u2019t even give themselves a chance to see what they\u2019ll look like as older individuals.<\/em>\u201d Four years later, in You Magazine<\/em>, she admitted, \u201cBy Hollywood standards, I think I took a big risk by not getting a facelift.\u201d<\/em><\/p>

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Still, her refusal to comply with industry norms hasn\u2019t slowed down her career. She is still landing major roles in high-profile films, like Ticket to Paradise<\/em><\/strong> (2022) with George Clooney<\/strong> and the Netflix movie Leave the World Behind <\/em><\/strong>(2023), produced by Barack Obama<\/strong><\/a>. She remains the favorite amongst American and French fans alike.<\/p><\/p>\n\n

\"Julia\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Julia Roberts in
Erin Brockovich<\/em> (2000) by Steven Soderbergh.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

3. “Hard” to work with or simply a powerful woman?<\/h3>

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She played the clarinet as a child, once aspired to be a vet or a journalist, and now practices yoga to stay grounded. She\u2019s also a passionate knitter on set. But despite her sunny image, some colleagues claim she wasn\u2019t always easy to work with. On the set of Steven Spielberg<\/strong>\u2019s feature Hook<\/em><\/strong> (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.<\/p><\/p>\n\n

She reportedly earned the nickname \u201cTinker Hell\u201d, a play on the name of her character Tinker Bell, during a tough period of depression following a breakup with actor Kiefer Sutherland. <\/strong>She was often late, emotionally volatile, and clashed with Steven Spielberg<\/strong>, allegedly described him as \u201cdisgusting<\/em>.\u201d But it\u2019s worth questioning how much of this was exaggerated. Women in Hollywood are frequently labeled \u201cdifficult\u201d simply for asserting themselves in a still male-dominated industry.<\/p><\/p>\n\n

\"Julia\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
Julia Roberts and Jude Law in
 Closer<\/em> (2004) by Mike Nichols.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

4. She is committed to various causes<\/h2>\n\n

Roberts\u2019 feminist stance extends beyond her roles. In 2017, she brought her daughter Hazel to the first Women\u2019s March in protest of Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration. A year earlier, she made waves at Cannes by walking the red carpet barefoot, rejecting the festival\u2019s high-heel dress code.<\/p>

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Appointed a UNICEF<\/strong> Goodwill Ambassador in 1994, she was honored by GLSEN<\/strong> (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.<\/p>\n\n

More recently, in 2019, Michelle Obama<\/strong> chose the Lanc\u00f4me<\/strong><\/a> and Chopard<\/strong> ambassador to accompany her on a humanitarian trip to Vietnam aimed at promoting girls’ education. While in some of her romantic comedies Julia Roberts<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n

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Julia Roberts in
Flatliners <\/em>\u00a9 Columbia TriStar Films.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

5. A wisdom seeker, who converted to hinduism<\/h2>\n\n

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<\/em><\/strong> (2010) and meeting a guru in India, she converted to Hinduism.<\/p>

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She now attends temple with her family and gave her children Hindu names\u2014Laxmi (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. \n \n<\/p>\n\n

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Julia Roberts and George Clooney in
Ticket to Paradise<\/em> (2022) by Ol Parker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

6. Julia Roberts, \u201ca pop culture icon<\/em>\u201d acclaimed at the C\u00e9sars<\/h2>

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On February 28th, 2025, Julia Roberts<\/strong> received an award for lifetime achievement at the 50th ceremony of the C\u00e9sar<\/a><\/strong> Awards. In a press release, the Acad\u00e9mie des Arts et Techniques du Cin\u00e9ma stated: \u201cJulia Roberts is not only a movie star; she is also an icon of pop culture, and her influence extends far beyond her performances.<\/em>\u201d<\/p><\/p>\n\n

At 58, the American actress remains America\u2019s sweetheart, a superstar, whose large smile can lift the spirits of audiences and make them forgive her less compelling roles (Eat Pray Love<\/em>, Full Frontal<\/em>). Julia Roberts<\/strong>‘s upcoming projects may even win over her most reluctant critics.<\/p><\/p>\n\n

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Une publication partag\u00e9e par Julia Roberts (@juliaroberts)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\r\n