Editing Julia Roberts (section)

===2000s===
Roberts became the first actress to be paid $20&nbsp;million for a film,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/julia-roberts-collects-20-million-for-erin-brockovich|title=Julia Roberts collects $20&nbsp;million for Erin Brockovich|date=August 30, 2010 |access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-date=December 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231074208/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/julia-roberts-collects-20-million-for-erin-brockovich|url-status=live}}</ref> when she took on the role of real-life environmental activist [[Erin Brockovich]] in her fight against the [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company]] (PG&E) of [[California]], in ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|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",<ref name= "travers">{{cite news |last=Travers |first=Peter |date=February 9, 2001 |title=''Erin Brockovich'' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947601/review/5947602/erin_brockovich |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105231724/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947601/review/5947602/erin_brockovich |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2007 |access-date=December 5, 2008}}</ref> while ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' critic [[Owen Gleiberman]] felt that it was a "delight to watch Roberts, with her flirtatious sparkle and undertow of melancholy".<ref name= "gleiberman">{{cite magazine |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |date=March 24, 2000 |title=''Erin Brockovich'' |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=https://ew.com/article/2000/03/24/erin-brockovich-4/ |access-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=October 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021061816/https://ew.com/article/2000/03/24/erin-brockovich-4/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Erin Brockovich'' made $256.3&nbsp;million worldwide,<ref>{{Mojo title | id=erinbrockovich | title=Erin Brockovich}}</ref> 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 [[Power 100|list of the 50 most influential women in show business]] since the list had begun in 1992,<ref name=RfaoHRpl/> and her Shoelace Productions company received a deal with Joe Roth.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lyons|first=Charles|date=2000-02-18|title=Roth signs first star: Roberts|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/roth-signs-first-star-roberts-1117776577/|access-date=2020-10-18|website=Variety|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018191555/https://variety.com/2000/film/news/roth-signs-first-star-roberts-1117776577/|url-status=live}}</ref>

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]]. The film's script was originally intended to be filmed as an [[independent film|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&nbsp;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."<ref>{{Rotten Tomatoes | id=m/americas_sweethearts | title=America's Sweethearts}}</ref> A commercial success, it grossed over $138&nbsp;million worldwide, however.<ref>{{Mojo title | id=americassweethearts | title=America's Sweethearts}}</ref> In her last film released in 2001, Roberts teamed with ''Erin Brockovich'' director [[Steven Soderbergh]] for ''[[Ocean's Eleven (2001 film)|Ocean's Eleven]]'', a remake of the 1960 film [[Ocean's 11 (1960 film)|of the same name]], featuring an [[ensemble cast]] including [[George Clooney]], [[Brad Pitt]], and [[Matt Damon]]. Roberts played [[List of Ocean's Trilogy characters#Tess Ocean|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 [[2001 in film#Top-grossing films|fifth highest-grossing film of the year]] with a total of $450&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Mojo title | id=oceanseleven | title=Ocean's Eleven}}</ref>

[[File:Julia_Roberts_in_May_2002.jpg|thumb|upright|Roberts in 2002]]

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]] in 1953, in [[Mike Newell (director)|Mike Newell]]'s drama  ''[[Mona Lisa Smile]]''.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.forbes.com/2007/01/17/richest-women-entertainment-tech-media-cz_lg_richwomen07_0118womenstars_slide_9.html| title = The 20 Richest Women in Entertainment| work = Forbes| date = January 17, 2007| access-date = July 15, 2011| first1 = Lea| last1 = Goldman| first2 = Kiri| last2 = Blakeley| archive-date = March 13, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313012300/http://www.forbes.com/2007/01/17/richest-women-entertainment-tech-media-cz_lg_richwomen07_0118womenstars_slide_9.html| url-status = live}}</ref> The film garnered largely lukewarm reviews by critics, who found it "predictable and safe", but made over $141 million in theaters.<ref>{{Rotten Tomatoes | id=m/mona_lisa_smile | title=Mona Lisa Smile}}</ref> In 2004, Roberts replaced [[Cate Blanchett]] in the role of an American photographer for [[Mike Nichols]]'s film ''[[Closer (2004 film)|Closer]]'', a [[romantic drama]] written by [[Patrick Marber]], based on his [[Closer (play)|1997 play of the same name]],<ref name="playbill1">{{cite web | first=Andrew | last=Gans | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/julia-roberts-may-replace-cate-blanchett-in-closer-film-115389 | title=Julia Roberts May Replace Cate Blanchett in Closer Film | access-date=April 3, 2013 | date=September 24, 2003 | work=Playbill | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101050656/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/julia-roberts-may-replace-cate-blanchett-in-closer-film-115389 | archive-date=January 1, 2016}}</ref> co-starring [[Jude Law]], [[Natalie Portman]] and [[Clive Owen]].<ref name="playbill1"/> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Steven Soderbergh Doesn't Care If You Like 'Ocean's 12,' But Don't Hate It for the Wrong Reason |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/10/steven-soderbergh-oceans-12_n_6289914.html |first=Christopher |last=Rosen |date=December 10, 2014 |work=Huffington Post |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019090230/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/10/steven-soderbergh-oceans-12_n_6289914.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Though less well reviewed than ''Eleven'', the film became another major success at the box office, with a gross of $363&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Mojo title | id=oceanstwelve | title=Ocean's Twelve}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/clooney-dives-into-oceans-13/ | work=CBS News | title=Clooney Dives Into 'Ocean's 13' | first=Melissa | last=McNamara | date=March 28, 2006 | access-date=April 17, 2020 | archive-date=October 16, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016214614/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/28/entertainment/main1444841.shtml | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2005, she was featured in the music video for the single "[[Dreamgirl (Dave Matthews Band song)|Dreamgirl]]" by the [[Dave Matthews Band]]. It was her first music video appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8988202|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925215656/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/8988202/ns/today-entertainment/t/julia-becomes-dave-matthews-dreamgirl/|url-status=live|archive-date=September 25, 2011|title=Julia becomes Dave Matthews' 'Dreamgirl': Band gets Roberts to appear in her first-ever music video|access-date=July 23, 2011|date=August 17, 2005|work=[[Access Hollywood]]|publisher=[[MSNBC]]}}</ref> Roberts appeared in ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'''s list of the 10 highest-paid actresses every year from 2002 (when the magazine began compiling its list) to 2005.<ref name=NKTtHRAASL/>

In 2006, Roberts voiced a nurse ant in ''[[The Ant Bully (film)|The Ant Bully]]'' and a [[barn spider]] in ''[[Charlotte's Web (2006 film)|Charlotte's Web]]''.<ref name=NYTScottAntBully>{{cite news|last1=Scott|first1=A. O.|title='The Ant Bully,' in Which the Bugs Sound Like Movie Stars|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/28/movies/28ant.html|access-date=November 27, 2015|agency=The New York Times|date=July 28, 2006|archive-date=June 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622203653/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/28/movies/28ant.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYTScottWeb>{{cite news|last1=Scott|first1=A. O.|title=White's Country Critters, Still Humble|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/15/movies/15char.html|access-date=November 27, 2015|agency=The New York Times|date=December 15, 2006|archive-date=April 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401232955/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/15/movies/15char.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 $1{{nbsp}}million in ticket sales during its first week<ref>{{cite news |first=Elysa |last=Gardner |title=Julia rains money on Broadway |date=April 13, 2006 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2006-04-12-roberts-broadway_x.htm |work=USA Today |access-date=July 6, 2009 |archive-date=May 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501115009/http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/2006-04-12-roberts-broadway_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> 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) [and] only glancingly acquainted with the two characters she plays."<ref name='NYTBrantley'>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Brantley |title=Enough Said About 'Three Days of Rain.' Let's Talk Julia Roberts! |date=April 20, 2006 |url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/2006/04/20/theater/reviews/20rain.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 6, 2009 |archive-date=February 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212131620/http://theater2.nytimes.com/2006/04/20/theater/reviews/20rain.html |url-status=live }}</ref> 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."<ref name='NYTBrantley' /> 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."<ref>{{cite news | first=Clive | last=Barnes | author-link=Clive Barnes | url=https://nypost.com/2006/04/20/julias-3-dull-days-of-rain-a-soggy-eternity/ | title=Julia's 3 Dull Days of Rain a Soggy Eternity | work=New York Post | date=April 20, 2006 | access-date=November 16, 2018 | archive-date=November 17, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117105106/https://nypost.com/2006/04/20/julias-3-dull-days-of-rain-a-soggy-eternity/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In [[Mike Nichols]]' biographical drama ''[[Charlie Wilson's War (film)|Charlie Wilson's War]]'' (2007), Roberts starred as socialite [[Joanne Herring]], the love interest of Democratic Texas Congressman [[Charlie Wilson (Texas politician)|Charles Wilson]], opposite [[Tom Hanks]] and [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]]. The film received considerable acclaim,<ref>{{Rotten Tomatoes | id=m/charlie_wilsons_war | title=Charlie Wilson's War}}</ref> made $119.5 million worldwide,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=charliewilsonswar.htm|title=Charlie Wilson's War|access-date=January 6, 2022|archive-date=June 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609125522/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=charliewilsonswar.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and earned Roberts her sixth Golden Globe nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/julia-roberts|title=Julia Roberts|website=www.goldenglobes.com|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006035212/https://www.goldenglobes.com/person/julia-roberts|url-status=live}}</ref>

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]], in the comic thriller ''[[Duplicity (2009 film)|Duplicity]]'' (2009).<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Dana|last=Stevens|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2009/03/pretty_confusing.html|title=Pretty Confusing|magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=March 19, 2009|access-date=February 19, 2009|archive-date=March 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307071253/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2009/03/pretty_confusing.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite mixed reviews and moderate box office returns,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/don-t-blame-roberts-duplicity-stumble-wbna29828981|title=Don't blame Roberts for 'Duplicity' stumble|date=March 23, 2009 |access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-date=January 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107035750/https://www.today.com/popculture/don-t-blame-roberts-duplicity-stumble-wbna29828981|url-status=live}}</ref> critic [[A. O. Scott]] 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".<ref name="scott">{{cite news | first = A. O. | last = Scott | author-link = A. O. Scott | title = Effervescent Espionage With Two Irresistible Forces | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = March 20, 2009 | url = https://movies.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/movies/20dupl.html | access-date = March 20, 2009 | archive-date = March 22, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090322193614/http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/movies/20dupl.html | url-status = live }}</ref> She received her seventh [[Golden Globe]] nomination for her role.