Editing Julia Roberts (section)

===1990s===
Catapulting on her 1989 Academy Award nomination, Roberts gained further notice from worldwide audiences when she starred with [[Richard Gere]] in the [[Cinderella]]–[[Pygmalion (play)|Pygmalionesque]] story, ''[[Pretty Woman]]'', in 1990, playing an assertive freelance [[hooker with a heart of gold]].<ref name=tca/> Roberts won the role after [[Michelle Pfeiffer]], [[Molly Ringwald]], [[Meg Ryan]], [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]], [[Karen Allen]], and [[Daryl Hannah]] (her co-star in ''[[Steel Magnolias]]'') turned it down.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/pretty-woman-20th-anniversary-re-release | title=Pretty Woman: 20th anniversary re-release | first=Jonathan | last=Crocker | work=Total Film | publisher=Future Publishing Limited | date=January 25, 2010 | access-date=July 20, 2011 | archive-date=May 11, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511151029/http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/pretty-woman-20th-anniversary-re-release | url-status=live }}</ref> The role also earned her a second Oscar nomination, this time as [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]], and second Golden Globe Award win, as [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical|Best Actress – Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)]].<ref name=tca/> She was paid $300,000 for the part.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/people/JROBE.php|title=Julia Roberts|access-date=July 23, 2011|publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC|archive-date=August 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826074523/http://the-numbers.com/people/JROBE.php|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Pretty Woman'' saw the highest number of ticket sales in the U.S. ever for a romantic comedy,<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9158072/Richard-Gere-Pretty-Woman-a-silly-romantic-comedy.html | title= Richard Gere: Pretty Woman a 'Silly Romantic Comedy' | first= Rosa | last= Prince | work= [[The Daily Telegraph]] | date= March 21, 2012 | location= London | access-date= October 6, 2018 | archive-date= June 13, 2018 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180613125145/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9158072/Richard-Gere-Pretty-Woman-a-silly-romantic-comedy.html | url-status= live }}</ref> and made $463.4{{nbsp}}million worldwide.<ref>{{Mojo title | id=prettywoman | title=Pretty Woman}}.</ref> The [[Red dress of Julia Roberts|red dress]] Roberts wore in the film has been considered one of the most famous gowns in cinema.<ref>{{cite web |title=20 Greatest Movie Dresses of All Timce |url=https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/g1398/greatest-movie-dresses-ever/ |website=Marie Claire |access-date=28 October 2021 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028031825/https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/g1398/greatest-movie-dresses-ever/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="vogueparis">{{cite web |last1=Reyand |first1=Florain |title=The secrets behind Julia Roberts' red dress in Pretty Woman |url=https://www.vogue.fr/fashion-culture/article/the-secrets-behind-julia-roberts-red-dress-in-pretty-woman |website=Vogue Paris |date=August 14, 2020 |access-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028031816/https://www.vogue.fr/fashion-culture/article/the-secrets-behind-julia-roberts-red-dress-in-pretty-woman |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="marie">{{cite web |last1=Goldstone |first1=Penny |title=This legendary fashion moment from Pretty Woman almost never was |url=https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/pretty-woman-dress-never-happened-674129 |website=Marie Claire UK |date=November 14, 2019 |access-date=28 October 2021 |archive-date=October 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028031832/https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/pretty-woman-dress-never-happened-674129 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:JuliaRoberts90.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Roberts at the 1990 [[Deauville American Film Festival]]]]

Her next film release following ''Pretty Woman'' was [[Joel Schumacher]]'s supernatural thriller ''[[Flatliners]]'' (also 1990), in which Roberts starred as one of five students conducting clandestine experiments that produce [[near-death experience]]s. 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/news/1540549/the-weird-reason-the-new-flatliners-isnt-really-a-remake|title=The Weird Reason The New Flatliners Isn't Really A Remake|date=1 August 2016|access-date=January 16, 2022|archive-date=January 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116012906/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1540549/the-weird-reason-the-new-flatliners-isnt-really-a-remake|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 [[Tinker Bell|Tinkerbell]] in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s fantasy film ''[[Hook (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,<ref>[http://admin.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=sleepingwiththeenemy.htm ''Sleeping with the Enemy'' at Box Office Mojo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708090044/http://admin.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=sleepingwiththeenemy.htm |date=2011-07-08 }}</ref> ''Hook'' $300.9 million<ref>{{Mojo title | id=hook | title=Hook}}</ref> and ''Dying Young'' $82.3 million<ref>{{Mojo title | id=dyingyoung | title=Dying Young}}.</ref> globally.

Roberts took a two-year hiatus from the screen, during which her only appearance in a film was a [[Cameo appearance|cameo]] in [[Robert Altman]]'s ''[[The Player (1992 film)|The Player]]'' (1992). In early 1993, she was the subject of a ''[[People (American magazine)|People]]'' magazine cover story asking, "What Happened to Julia Roberts?".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/julia_roberts/biography |title=People Magazine – Celebrity Central/Top 25 Celebs, Julia Roberts, biography |work=People |access-date=October 12, 2012 |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728213904/http://www.people.com/people/julia_roberts/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> Roberts starred with [[Denzel Washington]] in the thriller ''[[The Pelican Brief (film)|The Pelican Brief]]'' (1993), based on [[John Grisham]]'s [[The Pelican Brief|1992 novel of the same name]].<ref name=tca/> 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&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{cite news | title='Pelican' Soars at the Box Office Movies: The mystery, with Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, takes in more than $16 million. 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' 'Schindler's List' also do well. | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=December 20, 1993 | first=David J. | last=Fox | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-20-ca-3857-story.html | access-date=November 30, 2010 | archive-date=October 3, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003201300/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-20-ca-3857-story.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title='Mrs. Doubtfire,' 'Pelican Brief' propel final week and 'Jurassic Park' chews up the competition as industry receipts hit $5.2&nbsp;billion. | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=January 3, 1994 | first=David J. | last=Fox | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-03-ca-8097-story.html | access-date=October 26, 2010 | archive-date=September 24, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924151628/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-01-03/entertainment/ca-8097_1_jurassic-park | url-status=live }}</ref> None of her next film releases —''[[I Love Trouble (1994 film)|I Love Trouble]]'' (1994), ''[[Prêt-à-Porter (film)|Prêt-à-Porter]]'' (1994) and ''[[Something to Talk About (film)|Something to Talk About]]'' (1995)— were particularly well received by critics nor big box office draws.<ref>{{Rotten Tomatoes | id=m/i_love_trouble | title=I Love Trouble}}.</ref><ref>{{Mojo title | id=readytowear | title=Ready to Wear}}.</ref><ref>{{Rotten Tomatoes | id=m/something_to_talk_about | title=Something to Talk About}}.</ref> In 1996, she guest-starred in the [[Friends (season 2)|second season]] of ''[[Friends]]'' (episode 13, "[[The One After the Superbowl]]"),<ref>{{cite news | title=CBS Will Revisit 'Knots Landing' In A Miniseries | last=Dubin | first=Murray | date=January 9, 1996 | work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] | page=D02}}</ref> and appeared with [[Liam Neeson]] in the historical drama ''[[Michael Collins (film)|Michael Collins]]'',<ref name=tca/> portraying [[Kitty Kiernan]], 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.<ref>{{Rotten Tomatoes | id=m/mary_reilly | title=Mary Reilly}}.</ref><ref>{{Mojo title | id=maryreilly | title=Mary Reilly}}.</ref>

By the late 1990s, Roberts enjoyed renewed success in the romantic comedy genre. In [[P. J. Hogan]]'s ''[[My Best Friend's Wedding]]'' (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. Roberts' performance was highly praised.<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Odman |first=Sydney |date=June 20, 2018 |title=The Cast of 'My Best Friend's Wedding,' Then and Now |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/julia-roberts-cast-my-best-friends-wedding-now-1121064/julia-roberts-2/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_best_friends_wedding |title=''My Best Friend{{'}}s Wedding'' (1997) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=June 20, 1997 |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=February 27, 2018 |archive-date=November 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127042844/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_best_friends_wedding/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.vogue.com/13352768/15-best-romantic-comedies/ | title=The 15 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time | work=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]] | date=September 15, 2015 | first=Jessie | last=Heyman | access-date=June 16, 2016 | archive-date=June 12, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612231916/http://www.vogue.com/13352768/15-best-romantic-comedies | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.livingly.com/Friendship/articles/yT8mSNk7a6-/My+Best+Friend+Wedding+Taught+Life | title=What 'My Best Friend's Wedding' Taught Us About Life | work=Livingly Media | date=August 12, 2015 | first=Kimia | last=Madani | access-date=June 16, 2016 | archive-date=May 6, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506113526/http://www.livingly.com/Friendship/articles/yT8mSNk7a6-/My+Best+Friend+Wedding+Taught+Life | url-status=live }}</ref> The film was a [[1997 in film|global box-office hit]], earning $299.3 million.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1997&p=.htm | title=1997 Worldwide Grosses | website=[[Box Office Mojo]] | access-date=April 17, 2020 | archive-date=July 11, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711093937/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=1997&p=.htm | url-status=live }}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web |last=LaSalle |first=Mick |date=August 8, 1997 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1997/08/08/DD20603.DTL |title=A Shaky ''Theory'' |website=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-date=February 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201022735/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1997/08/08/DD20603.DTL |url-status=live }}</ref> The film, nevertheless, grossed a respectable $137 million.<ref>{{mojo title|id=conspiracytheory |title=Conspiracy Theory}}</ref> 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]],<ref name="Stepmom 1998">{{Rotten Tomatoes | id=stepmom | title=Stepmom}}.</ref> revolving around the complicated relationship between a terminally-ill mother and the future stepmother of her children. While reviews were mixed-to-positive,<ref name="Stepmom 1998" /> the film made $159.7&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Mojo title | id=stepmom | title=Stepmom}}.</ref>

Roberts paired with [[Hugh Grant]] for ''[[Notting Hill (film)|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 $363{{nbsp}}million worldwide.<ref>{{Mojo title | id=nottinghill | title=Notting Hill}}.</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9905/27/review.notting.hill/ | title=Review: Julia, Hugh a perfect match for 'Notting Hill' | access-date=May 21, 2007 | date=May 27, 1999 | last=Clinton | first=Paul | publisher=CNN | archive-date=April 26, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426152120/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9905/27/review.notting.hill/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1999, she also reunited with Richard Gere and Garry Marshall for ''[[Runaway Bride (film)|Runaway Bride]]'', in which she played a woman who has left a string of fiancés at the altar. Despite mixed reviews,<ref>{{cite news | title=It Looked Good on Paper | first=Kenneth | last=Turan | author-link=Kenneth Turan | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=July 30, 1999 | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-30-ca-60883-story.html | access-date=June 2, 2012 | archive-date=March 4, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304062828/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jul/30/entertainment/ca-60883 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Review: Roberts runs away with hearts in ''Runaway Bride'' | first=Paul | last=Clinton | publisher=CNN | date=July 29, 1999 | url=http://articles.cnn.com/1999-07-29/entertainment/9907_29_review.runawaybride_1_gere-and-roberts-maggie-carpenter-sara-parriott?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119220039/http://articles.cnn.com/1999-07-29/entertainment/9907_29_review.runawaybride_1_gere-and-roberts-maggie-carpenter-sara-parriott?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 19, 2013 | access-date=June 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Runaway Bride | first=Roger | last=Ebert | author-link=Roger Ebert | work=[[Chicago Sun Times]] | date=July 30, 1999 | url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19990730/REVIEWS/907300301/1023 | access-date=June 2, 2012 | archive-date=January 25, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125080152/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19990730%2FREVIEWS%2F907300301%2F1023 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=FILM REVIEW: Pretty Woman Is Back, But Now She's Cautious | first=Janet | last=Maslin | author-link=Janet Maslin | work=The New York Times | date=July 30, 1999 | url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9902E0DC1431F933A05754C0A96F958260 | access-date=June 2, 2012 | archive-date=October 16, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016215337/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9902E0DC1431F933A05754C0A96F958260 | url-status=live }}</ref> ''Runaway Bride'' was another financial success, grossing $309.4{{nbsp}}million around the globe.<ref>{{Mojo title | id=runawaybride | title=Runaway Bride}}.</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/julia-roberts|title=Julia Roberts|access-date=December 29, 2011|publisher=[[Emmys.com]]|archive-date=January 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120084954/http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/julia-roberts|url-status=live}}</ref>
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