Editing Julia Roberts

{{Short description|American actress (born 1967)}}
{{Other people}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Julia Roberts
| image              = File:Julia Roberts Delivers Remarks at the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors Dinner (52542372884) (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Roberts in 2022
| birth_name         = Julia Fiona Roberts
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1967|10|28}}
| birth_place        = [[Smyrna, Georgia]], U.S.
| occupation         = Actress
| years_active       = 1987–present
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
*{{marriage|[[Lyle Lovett]]|1993|1995|reason=divorced}} 
*{{marriage|[[Daniel Moder]]|2002}}
}}
| children           = 3
| relatives          = {{plainlist|
*[[Eric Roberts]] (brother)
*[[Emma Roberts]] (niece)
}}
| works              = [[Julia Roberts filmography|Filmography]]
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Julia Roberts|Full list]]
}}

'''Julia Fiona Roberts''' (born October 28, 1967)<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2023 |title=Julia Roberts &#124; Biography, Movies, & Facts &#124; Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julia-Roberts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215144230/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julia-Roberts |archive-date=February 15, 2023 |access-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref> is an American actress. Known for her leading roles across various genres, she has received [[List of awards and nominations received by Julia Roberts|multiple accolades]], including an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]], a [[British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Award]], and three [[Golden Globe Awards]]. She became known for portraying charming and relatable characters in [[Romantic comedy|romantic comedies]] and [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbusters]], before expanding into dramas, thrillers, and independent films. The [[Julia Roberts filmography|films in which she has starred]] have collectively grossed over $3.9 billion worldwide, making her one of Hollywood's most bankable stars,<ref name="thenumbers">{{cite web |title=Julia Roberts – Career Summary |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/person/750401-Julia-Roberts#tab=summary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308132941/https://www.the-numbers.com/person/750401-Julia-Roberts#tab=summary |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=29 March 2021 |website=The Numbers |publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC}}</ref> while the media nicknamed her "[[America's Sweetheart]]" in recognition of her widespread popularity and on- and off-screen charisma.

After early breakthroughs in ''[[Mystic Pizza]]'' (1988) and ''[[Steel Magnolias]]'' (1989), Roberts solidified her status as a [[Leading actor|leading lady]] when she starred in the top-grossing romantic comedy ''[[Pretty Woman]]'' (1990). She went on to star in several commercially successful films throughout the 1990s, including the romantic comedies ''[[My Best Friend's Wedding]]'' (1997), ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]'' (1999), and ''[[Runaway Bride (film)|Runaway Bride]]'' (1999). Roberts won the [[Academy Award for Best Actress]] for her portrayal of the [[Erin Brockovich|title role]] in the biographical drama [[Erin Brockovich (film)|''Erin Brockovich'']] (2000). In the following decades, she continued her film success with roles in ''[[Ocean's Eleven]]'' (2001), ''[[Ocean's Twelve]]'' (2004), ''[[Charlie Wilson's War (film)|Charlie Wilson's War]]'' (2007), ''[[Valentine's Day (2010 film)|Valentine's Day]]'' (2010), ''[[Eat Pray Love]]'' (2010), [[August: Osage County (film)|''August: Osage County'']] (2013), ''[[Wonder (film)|Wonder]]'' (2017), ''[[Ticket to Paradise (2022 film)|Ticket to Paradise]]'' (2022), and [[Leave the World Behind (film)|''Leave the World Behind'']] (2023). Roberts also earned a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination for her role in the HBO television film [[The Normal Heart (film)|''The Normal Heart'']] (2014), made her first regular television appearance in the first season of the Amazon Prime Video psychological thriller series [[Homecoming (TV series)|''Homecoming'']] (2018), and portrayed Martha Mitchell in the Starz political limited series ''[[Gaslit (TV series)|Gaslit]]'' (2022).

In addition to acting, Roberts runs the production company Red Om Films, through which she has served as an executive producer for various projects she has starred in, as well as for the first four films of the ''[[American Girl (film series)|American Girl]]'' franchise (2004–2008). She has acted as the global ambassador for [[Lancôme]] since 2009. She was the world's highest-paid actress throughout the majority of the 1990s and the first half of the 2000s.<ref name=RfaoHRpl>{{cite news | newspaper=The Guardian | title=Julia Roberts first actress on Hollywood Reporter power list | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/dec/05/news.juliaroberts | date=December 5, 2000 | access-date=February 1, 2015 | archive-date=February 1, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201191119/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/dec/05/news.juliaroberts | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>One exception is 1995, when [[Demi Moore]] was paid a record $12.5&nbsp;million to appear in ''[[Striptease (film)|Striptease]]''.</ref><ref name=NKTtHRAASL>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nicole+Kidman+Tops+The+Hollywood+Reporter%27s+Annual+Actress+Salary...-a0155216809 | magazine=The Hollywood Reporter | title=Nicole Kidman Tops the Hollywood Reporter's Annual Actress Salary List | date=November 30, 2006 | access-date=February 1, 2015 | archive-date=September 15, 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nicole+Kidman+Tops+The+Hollywood+Reporter%27s+Annual+Actress+Salary...-a0155216809 | url-status=dead }}</ref> She received a then-unprecedented fees of $20 million and $25&nbsp;million for her roles in ''Erin Brockovich'' (2000) and ''[[Mona Lisa Smile]]'' (2003), respectively. {{As of|2020}}, Roberts's net worth was estimated to be $250&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jeffrey |first=Joyann |title=Julia Roberts' Net Worth Is So Amazing She Can 'Eat Pray Love' Every Single Year |url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/julia-roberts-net-worth-how-much-money-does-the-actress-make/ |work=closerweekly.com |date=June 26, 2020 |access-date=March 30, 2021 |archive-date=December 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215051608/https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/julia-roberts-net-worth-how-much-money-does-the-actress-make/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine has named her the most beautiful woman in the world a record five times.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/981180/julia-roberts-has-been-a-movie-star-for-30-years-but-don-t-let-that-bother-you |title=No Big Deal, Julia Roberts Has Been a Movie Star for 30 Years |date=January 4, 2019 |website=E! Online |access-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028165347/https://www.eonline.com/news/981180/julia-roberts-has-been-a-movie-star-for-30-years-but-don-t-let-that-bother-you |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life and family==
Julia Fiona Roberts was born on October 28, 1967, in [[Smyrna, Georgia]], a suburb of [[Atlanta Metropolitan Area|Atlanta]],<ref name="WaPo">{{cite news |last1=Page |first1=Sydney |title=It's true, Martin Luther King Jr. paid the hospital bill when actress Julia Roberts was born |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/10/31/julia-roberts-mlk-birth-hospital/ |newspaper=Washington Post |publisher=Washington Post Inc. |access-date=1 November 2022 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101011659/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/10/31/julia-roberts-mlk-birth-hospital/ |url-status=live }}</ref> to Betty Lou Bredemus and Walter Grady Roberts.<ref name="WaPo"/><ref name="ref1">{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Clarke|title=Eric Roberts: His 'Star 80' Shines|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 24, 1983|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/671674182.html?dids=671674182:671674182&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+24%2C+1983&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=ERIC+ROBERTS%3A+HIS+'STAR+80'+SHINES&pqatl=google|access-date=December 16, 2009|archive-date=January 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106164710/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/671674182.html?dids=671674182%3A671674182&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AAI&type=historic&date=Nov+24%2C+1983&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=ERIC+ROBERTS%3A+HIS+%27STAR+80%27+SHINES&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is of English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German, and Swedish descent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nättidningen RÖTTER – för dig som släktforskar! (Julia Roberts) |url=http://www.genealogi.se/julia.htm |website=genealogi.se |access-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970331004946/http://www.genealogi.se/julia.htm |archive-date=March 31, 1997 |language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Smolenyak |first=Megan |title=Julia Roberts Isn't a Roberts |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/julia-roberts-isnt-a-robe_b_828778 |website=[[HuffPost]] |access-date=April 7, 2019 |date=February 27, 2011 |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407145246/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/julia-roberts-isnt-a-robe_b_828778 |url-status=live }}</ref> Her father was a Baptist, her mother Catholic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oh|first=Eunice|url=https://people.com/celebrity/why-julia-roberts-refuses-to-get-botox/|title=Why Julia Roberts Refuses to Get Botox|date=August 4, 2010|work=People|access-date=February 24, 2013|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220141603/http://people.com/celebrity/why-julia-roberts-refuses-to-get-botox/|url-status=live}}</ref>  Roberts was raised Catholic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/18/eat-pray-love-star-julia-roberts-happy-as-is/|title='Eat Pray Love' star Julia Roberts happy as is|agency=Associated Press|work=The Washington Times|date=August 18, 2010|quote=Julia, who was raised a Catholic...|access-date=September 12, 2010|first=Eric|last=Talmadge|archive-date=August 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801175218/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/18/eat-pray-love-star-julia-roberts-happy-as-is/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/18/hindu-julia-roberts-im-do_n_685893.html|title=Hindu Julia Roberts: I'm Done Talking About Religion|work=Huffington Post|location=USA|date=August 18, 2010|access-date=September 16, 2010|first=Katherine|last=Thomson|archive-date=August 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825054236/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/18/hindu-julia-roberts-im-do_n_685893.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Her older brother [[Eric Roberts]] (b. 1956), from whom she was estranged for several years until 2004, older sister Lisa Roberts Gillan (b. 1965), and niece [[Emma Roberts]], are also actors. She also had a younger half-sister named Nancy Motes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-04-21 |title=Julia Roberts Breaks Silence on Half Sister Nancy Motes' Death |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/julia-roberts-breaks-silence-sister-697948/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401075007/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/julia-roberts-breaks-silence-sister-697948/ |archive-date=2023-04-01 |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>

Roberts's parents, one-time actors and playwrights, met while performing in theatrical productions for the [[United States Armed Forces]]. They later co-founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop<ref>{{Cite news |last=Treisman |first=Rachel |date=2022-11-02 |title=Martin Luther King Jr. paid the bill for Julia Roberts' birth. Here's the backstory |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/11/01/1133121228/julia-roberts-mlk-birth |access-date=2022-11-07 |archive-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107130026/https://www.npr.org/2022/11/01/1133121228/julia-roberts-mlk-birth |url-status=live }}</ref> in [[Atlanta]], off Juniper Street in Midtown. They ran a children's acting school in [[Decatur, Georgia]], while they were expecting Julia. The children of [[Coretta Scott King|Coretta]] and [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] attended the school; Walter Roberts served as acting coach for their daughter, [[Yolanda King|Yolanda]].<ref>{{cite book |editor=Smith, Jessie Carney |title=Notable Black American Women: Book 2 |publisher=VNR AG |year=1996 |isbn=9780810391772 |page=385 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/notableblackamer00jess }}</ref> In gratitude for his service running the only racially integrated theater troupe in the region and due to the Roberts's financial difficulties,<ref name="bond">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/nov/01/julia-roberts-martin-luther-king-jr-connection|title=The unlikely bond between Julia Roberts and Martin Luther King Jr|last=Salam|first=Erum|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=2022-11-01|access-date=2022-11-01|archive-date=November 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102021417/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/nov/01/julia-roberts-martin-luther-king-jr-connection|url-status=live}}</ref> Coretta King paid the Roberts's hospital bill when Julia was born.<ref name="ref3">{{cite news |title=Julia Roberts{{nbsp}}– Coretta Scott King was Julia Roberts's Fairy Godmother |publisher=Contact Music |date=February 10, 2006 |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/coretta-scott-king-was-julia-roberts-fairy-godmother_10_02_2006 |access-date=December 16, 2009 |archive-date=February 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225121115/http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/coretta-scott-king-was-julia-roberts-fairy-godmother_10_02_2006 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-01 |title=The unlikely bond between Julia Roberts and Martin Luther King Jr |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/nov/01/julia-roberts-martin-luther-king-jr-connection |access-date=2022-11-02 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=November 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102021417/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/nov/01/julia-roberts-martin-luther-king-jr-connection |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/6555360/martin-luther-king-jr-surprising-facts/|author=Popli, Nik|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|title=10 Surprising Facts About Martin Luther King Jr.|url-status=live|date=January 14, 2024|access-date=January 16, 2024|archive-date=January 16, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240116161636/https://time.com/6555360/martin-luther-king-jr-surprising-facts/}}</ref>

Roberts's parents married in 1955. Her mother filed for divorce in 1971; the divorce was finalized in early 1972.<ref>''Julia: Her Life'', James Spada. St Martin's Press, New York, p. 32</ref> From 1972, Roberts lived in [[Smyrna, Georgia]], where she attended Fitzhugh Lee Elementary School, Griffin Middle School, and [[Campbell High School (Smyrna, Georgia)|Campbell High School]].<ref>[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1517 "Julia Roberts."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234419/http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1517 |date=January 16, 2013 }} ''The New Georgia Encyclopedia''</ref> In 1972, her mother married Michael Motes, who was abusive and often unemployed; Roberts despised him.<ref name="mirror.co.uk">{{cite news |last=Bucktin |first=Christopher |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/picture-exclusive-julia-roberts-smiles-2800516 |title=Picture exclusive: Julia Roberts smiles through the terror of abusive stepfather she 'feared and despised' |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |date=November 17, 2013 |access-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-date=March 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309194736/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/picture-exclusive-julia-roberts-smiles-2800516 |url-status=live }}</ref> The couple had a daughter, Nancy, who died at 37 on February&nbsp;9, 2014, of an apparent drug overdose.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/julia-roberts-half-sister-found-dead-apparent-overdose-weeks-angry-tweets-article-1.1609292 | title= Julia Roberts' half-sister Nancy Motes found dead from reported suicide: Family says cause was 'apparent drug overdose' | first= Nancy | last= Dillon |author2=Cristina Everett | work = [[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] | location = New York City| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140804143551/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/julia-roberts-half-sister-found-dead-apparent-overdose-weeks-angry-tweets-article-1.1609292 | access-date= February 10, 2014| archive-date= August 4, 2014 }}</ref> The marriage ended in 1983, with Betty Lou divorcing Motes on cruelty grounds; she had stated that marrying him was the biggest mistake of her life.<ref name="mirror.co.uk"/> Roberts's own father died of cancer when she was ten.<ref name=India>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090704060240/http://www.info2india.com/hollywood/celebrity/julia-roberts.html Profile] Info 2 India</ref>

Roberts wanted to be a veterinarian as a child.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Julia Roberts|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/julia-roberts/biography.html|work=Yahoo movies|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=March 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313083316/https://movies.yahoo.com/person/julia-roberts/biography.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She played the [[clarinet]] in her school band.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Julia Roberts|url=http://www.movieactors.com/superstars/julia_roberts.htm|work=www.movieactors.com|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117004935/http://www.movieactors.com/superstars/julia_roberts.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Julia Roberts: I Wasn't Popular In High School, I Coasted By|url=https://www.accessonline.com/articles/julia-roberts-i-wasnt-popular-in-high-school-i-coasted-by-108116|work=Access Online|date=October 10, 2011|access-date=October 21, 2019|archive-date=October 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021061818/https://www.accessonline.com/articles/julia-roberts-i-wasnt-popular-in-high-school-i-coasted-by-108116|url-status=live}}</ref> After graduating from Smyrna's [[Campbell High School (Georgia)|Campbell High School]], she headed to New York City to pursue a career in acting. Once there, she signed with the Click Modeling Agency and enrolled in acting classes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Julia Roberts|url=http://www.filmmakers.com/artists/juliaroberts/links/|work=filmmakers.com|access-date=July 14, 2012|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117004938/http://www.filmmakers.com/artists/juliaroberts/links/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career==
===1980s===
Following her first television appearance as a juvenile rape victim in the first season of the series ''[[Crime Story (U.S. TV series)|Crime Story]]'', with [[Dennis Farina]], in the episode "The Survivor", broadcast on February 13, 1987, Roberts made her big screen debut in the dramedy ''[[Satisfaction (1988 film)|Satisfaction]]'' (1988), alongside [[Liam Neeson]] and [[Justine Bateman]], as a band member looking for a summer gig. (She had filmed a small role in 1987 opposite her brother [[Eric Roberts|Eric]], in ''[[Blood Red (film)|Blood Red]]'', though she only had two words of dialogue, and it was not released until 1989.) In 1988, Roberts had a role in the fourth-season finale of ''[[Miami Vice]]'' and her first critical success with moviegoers came with the independent romantic comedy  ''[[Mystic Pizza]]'',<ref name=tca>Stated on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]'', 1997</ref> in which she played a Portuguese-American teenage girl working as a waitress at a pizza parlor. [[Roger Ebert]] found Roberts to be a "major beauty with a fierce energy" and observed that the film "may someday become known for the movie stars it showcased back before they became stars. All of the young actors in this movie have genuine gifts".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mystic-pizza-1988 |title=Mystic Pizza |website=rogerebert.com |date=October 21, 1998 |access-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310123116/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mystic-pizza-1988 }}</ref>

In ''[[Steel Magnolias]]'' (1989), a [[film adaptation]] of [[Robert Harling (writer)|Robert Harling]]'s [[Steel Magnolias (play)|1987 play of the same name]], Roberts starred as a young bride with [[diabetes]], alongside [[Sally Field]], [[Dolly Parton]], [[Shirley MacLaine]] and [[Daryl Hannah]]. The filmmakers were looking at both [[Laura Dern]] and [[Winona Ryder]] when the casting director insisted they see Roberts, who was then filming ''Mystic Pizza''.<ref name="jrrefn">{{cite web |url=https://www.southernliving.com/news/steel-magnolias-robert-harling-true-story |title=Julia Roberts Wasn't the Original Actor Cast as Shelby in Steel Magnolias |work=Southern Living |first=Rebecca Angel |last=Baer |date=May 24, 2019 |access-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219060905/https://www.southernliving.com/news/steel-magnolias-robert-harling-true-story }}</ref> Harling stated: "She walked into the room and that smile lit everything up and I said 'that's my sister', so she joined the party and she was magnificent".<ref name="jrrefn" /> Director [[Herbert Ross]] was notoriously tough on newcomer Roberts, with Sally Field admitting that he "went after Julia with a vengeance. This was pretty much her first big film".<ref name="jrrefn" /> Nevertheless, the film was a critical and commercial darling when it was released,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/steel_magnolias |title=Steel Magnolias |website=Rotten Tomatoes |date=November 15, 1989 |access-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118045953/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/steel_magnolias }}</ref> and Roberts received both her first Academy Award nomination (as [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]) and first Golden Globe Award win ([[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actress]]) [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture|Motion Picture]] for her performance.<ref name=tca/>

===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>
{{clear}}

===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.

===2010s===
[[File:Julia Roberts 2010.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Roberts at the French premiere of ''[[Eat Pray Love]]'' in 2010]]

In 2010, Roberts played a U.S. Army captain on a one-day leave, as part of a large ensemble cast, in the romantic comedy ''[[Valentine's Day (2010 film)|Valentine's Day]]'', and starred as an author finding herself following a divorce in the film adaptation of ''[[Eat Pray Love]]''. While she received $3&nbsp;million up front against 3 percent of the gross for her six-minute role in ''Valentine's Day'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/02/julia_roberts_valentines_day.html|title=For Valentine's Day, Julia Roberts Was Paid $500,000 a Minute ... All Six of Them|first=Claude|last=Brodesser-Akner|date=February 11, 2010 |access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506061032/https://www.vulture.com/2010/02/julia_roberts_valentines_day.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Eat Pray Love'' had the highest debut at the box office for Roberts in a top-billed role since ''America's Sweethearts''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://valse-boston.livejournal.com/389329.html |title=Julia Roberts: Eat Pray Love in ELLE Magazine September 2010 |date=September 12, 2010 |publisher=Valse-boston.livejournal.com |access-date=October 12, 2012 |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117004935/http://valse-boston.livejournal.com/389329.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2889&p=.htm |title='Expendables' Explode, 'Eat Pray Love' Carbo-Loads, 'Scott Pilgrim' Powers Down |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=August 16, 2010 |access-date=October 12, 2012 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025234539/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2889&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> She appeared as the teacher of a middle-aged man returning to education in the romantic comedy ''[[Larry Crowne]]'', opposite [[Tom Hanks]], who also served as the director.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/movies/tom-hanks-and-julia-roberts-in-larry-crowne-review.html|title=Stymied in Middle Age, Reaching for a New Life|access-date=July 23, 2011|date=June 30, 2011|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Stephen|last=Holden|archive-date=July 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704185517/http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/movies/tom-hanks-and-julia-roberts-in-larry-crowne-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was poorly received by critics and audiences,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rottentomatoes.com/m/larry_crowne/ |title=Larry Crowne (2011) |access-date=July 23, 2011 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=July 2011 |archive-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805035747/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/larry_crowne/ |url-status=live }}</ref> although Roberts's comedic performance was praised.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/21/PKKE1K7KES.DTL|title=How good is 'Larry Crowne'?|access-date=July 23, 2011|date=July 21, 2011|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|first=Mick|last=LaSalle|archive-date=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723074647/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F07%2F21%2FPKKE1K7KES.DTL|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''[[Mirror Mirror (film)|Mirror Mirror]]'' (2012), the [[Tarsem Singh]] adaptation of ''[[Snow White]]'', Roberts portrayed [[Queen (Snow White)|Queen Clementianna]], Snow White's evil stepmother, opposite [[Lily Collins]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/05/mirror-mirror-snow-white-lily-collins_n_1077158.html|title='Mirror, Mirror': Snow White Film Starring Lily Collins, Julia Roberts Out March 26, 2012|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=November 4, 2011|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|archive-date=November 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107031220/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/05/mirror-mirror-snow-white-lily-collins_n_1077158.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone'' felt that she tried "way too hard" in her role,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/mirror-mirror-124985/ |title=Mirror Mirror |first=Peter |last=Travers |date=March 30, 2012 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107035358/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/mirror-mirror-124985/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while Katey Rich of ''Cinema Blend'' observed that she "takes relish in her wicked [portrayal] but could have gone even further with it".<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.cinemablend.com/reviews/Mirror-Mirror-5801.html|title = Mirror Mirror|date = May 27, 2016|access-date = January 6, 2022|archive-date = January 6, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220106001359/https://www.cinemablend.com/reviews/Mirror-Mirror-5801.html|url-status = live}}</ref> ''Mirror Mirror'' made $183 million globally.

In 2013, Roberts starred alongside [[Meryl Streep]] and [[Ewan McGregor]] in the [[black comedy]] drama ''[[August: Osage County (film)|August: Osage County]]'', about a [[dysfunctional family]] that re-unites into the familial house when their patriarch suddenly disappears.<ref>{{cite news | first=Mike | last=Fleming | title=Julia Roberts And Meryl Streep To Team In 'August: Osage County' For John Wells | url=https://deadline.com/2010/09/julia-roberts-meryl-streep-to-team-in-august-osage-county-71370/ | website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] | publisher=[[PMC (company)|PMC]] | date=September 30, 2010 | access-date=September 30, 2010 | archive-date=October 1, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001213611/http://www.deadline.com/2010/09/julia-roberts-meryl-streep-to-team-in-august-osage-county/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Her performance earned her nominations for the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture|Golden Globe Award]], [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role|Screen Actors Guild Award]], [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress|Critics' Choice Award]], and [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]], amongst other accolades.<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Connell|first=Michael|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globes-nominations-complete-list-665228|title=Golden Globes Nominations: The Complete List|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=December 12, 2013|access-date=January 16, 2014|archive-date=September 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915175249/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globes-nominations-complete-list-665228|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sagawards.org/media-pr/press-releases/nominations-announced-20th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards%C2%AE |title=Nominations Announced for the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® &#124; Screen Actors Guild Awards |publisher=Sagawards.org |date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=January 16, 2014 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016001917/http://www.sagawards.org/media-pr/press-releases/nominations-announced-20th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards%C2%AE |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Respers France|first=Lisa|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/16/showbiz/movies/awards-season-critics-choice-awards-nominations/|title='12 Years a Slave' and 'American Hustle' lead Critics' Choice noms|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=January 8, 2014|access-date=January 16, 2014|archive-date=January 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119090051/http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/16/showbiz/movies/awards-season-critics-choice-awards-nominations|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Oscar nominations announced for supporting actress|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/oscar-nominations-announced-for-supporting-actress/2014/01/16/48da8bde-7eb4-11e3-97d3-b9925ce2c57b_story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140116203419/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/oscar-nominations-announced-for-supporting-actress/2014/01/16/48da8bde-7eb4-11e3-97d3-b9925ce2c57b_story.html|archive-date=January 16, 2014|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|access-date=January 16, 2014|date=January 16, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was her fourth Academy Award nomination.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oscars 2014: Nominees' reactions – includes Julia Roberts|url=http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/photos/Oscars-2014:-Nominees-reactions---includes-Julia-Roberts/9395756|publisher=Ontheredcarpet.com|access-date=January 16, 2014|date=January 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119150714/http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/photos/Oscars-2014:-Nominees-reactions---includes-Julia-Roberts/9395756|archive-date=January 19, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, Roberts starred as Dr. Emma Brookner, a character based on Dr. [[Linda Laubenstein]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timelinetheatre.com/normal_heart/TimeLine_NormalHeart_StudyGuide.pdf |title=''The Normal Heart'' study guide |publisher=TimeLine Theatre |date=2013 |access-date=December 1, 2014 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072205/http://www.timelinetheatre.com/normal_heart/TimeLine_NormalHeart_StudyGuide.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author-link=Larry Kramer |last=Kramer |first=Larry |url=http://media.npr.org/assets/artslife/arts/2011/05/larry-kramer-flyer_custom.jpg |title=Please Know |publisher=The Normal Heart on Broadway |date=2011 |access-date=December 1, 2014 |archive-date=March 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324080219/http://media.npr.org/assets/artslife/arts/2011/05/larry-kramer-flyer_custom.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref> in the television adaptation of Larry Kramer's AIDS-era play, ''[[The Normal Heart]]'', which aired on [[HBO]]; the film was critically acclaimed and ''Vanity Fair'', in its review, wrote: "Roberts, meanwhile, hums with righteous, ''Erin Brokovich''-ian anger. Between this and ''August: Osage County'', she's carving out a nice new niche for herself, playing brittle women who show their love and concern through explosive temper".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/05/the-normal-heart-review|title=HBO's The Normal Heart Reviewed|first=Richard|last=Lawson|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=May 23, 2014|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626225912/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/05/the-normal-heart-review|url-status=live}}</ref> Her role garnered her a nomination for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/bios/julia-roberts|title=Julia Roberts – Television Academy|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203225827/http://www.emmys.com/bios/julia-roberts|url-status=live}}</ref>

Roberts narrated "Women in Hollywood", an episode of the second season of ''[[Makers: Women Who Make America]]'', in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/makers/season-two/women-in-hollywood/|title=Women in Hollywood|access-date=November 21, 2014|publisher=[[PBS]]|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129034422/http://www.pbs.org/makers/season-two/women-in-hollywood/|url-status=live}}</ref> and appeared in [[Givenchy]]'s spring–summer campaign in 2015.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.wwd.com/media-news/advertising/givenchy-turns-to-julia-roberts-8064000|title=Givenchy Turns to Julia Roberts|date=December 9, 2014|access-date=December 10, 2014|magazine=Women's Wear Daily|archive-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211022210/http://www.wwd.com/media-news/advertising/givenchy-turns-to-julia-roberts-8064000|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/style/exclusive-givenchys-new-muse-julia-roberts-on-104724284673.html|title=Exclusive: Givenchy's New Muse Julia Roberts on Becoming a Supermodel at 47|date=December 9, 2014|access-date=December 10, 2014|publisher=Yahoo! Style|archive-date=December 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141212031941/https://www.yahoo.com/style/exclusive-givenchys-new-muse-julia-roberts-on-104724284673.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She starred as a grieving mother opposite [[Nicole Kidman]] and [[Chiwetel Ejiofor]] in ''[[Secret in Their Eyes]]'' (2015), a remake of the [[The Secret in Their Eyes|2009 Argentine film of the same name]], both based on the novel ''La pregunta de sus ojos'' by author [[Eduardo Sacheri]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/secret_in_their_eyes_2015|title=Secret in Their Eyes|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=November 20, 2015 |access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430091647/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/secret_in_their_eyes_2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike the original film, the American version received negative reviews and failed to find an audience.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/secret_in_their_eyes_2015|title = Secret in Their Eyes|website = [[Rotten Tomatoes]]| date=November 20, 2015 |access-date = October 5, 2018|archive-date = April 30, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190430091647/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/secret_in_their_eyes_2015|url-status = live}}</ref> Donald Clarke of ''[[Irish Times]]'' concluded that a "sound job" by the cast "can't quite shake the whiff of compromise that hangs around the project".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/secret-in-their-eyes-review-not-quite-peculiar-enough-to-be-interesting-1.2547945|title=Secret in Their Eyes review: Not quite peculiar enough to be interesting|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001015810/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/secret-in-their-eyes-review-not-quite-peculiar-enough-to-be-interesting-1.2547945|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, Roberts reunited with [[Garry Marshall]] and reportedly received a $3 million fee for a four-day shoot, playing an accomplished author who gave her child for adoption, in the romantic comedy ''[[Mother's Day (2016 film)|Mother's Day]]'', which had a lackluster critical and commercial response.<ref>{{Mojo title | id=mothersday | title=Mother's Day}}</ref> Her next film release was [[Jodie Foster]]'s thriller ''[[Money Monster]]'', in which she starred as a television director,  alongside [[George Clooney]] and [[Jack O'Connell (actor)|Jack O'Connell]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/julia-roberts-mothers-day-salary-1201764235/ | title=Julia Roberts Made $3 Million for 4 Days on 'Mother's Day' | first=Ramin | last=Setoodeh | date=May 1, 2016 | work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | access-date=October 28, 2018 | archive-date=August 26, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826005042/https://variety.com/2016/film/news/julia-roberts-mothers-day-salary-1201764235/ | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Sandra Hall (writer)|Sandra Hall]] of ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' stated: "It may be Hollywood melodrama but it's top of the range, giving Clooney and Roberts every opportunity to demonstrate the value of star power."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/money-monster-review-explosive-thriller-takes-aim-at-wall-street-trickery-20160530-gp7fp7.html|title=Money Monster review: Explosive thriller takes aim at Wall Street trickery|date=May 30, 2016|access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105151554/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/money-monster-review-explosive-thriller-takes-aim-at-wall-street-trickery-20160530-gp7fp7.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film made a respectable $93.3 million worldwide.<ref name="Mojo">{{Mojo title | id=moneymonster | title=Money Monster}}</ref><ref name="Meta">{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/money-monster | title=Money Monster reviews | website=Metacritic | access-date=June 4, 2016 | archive-date=June 2, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602032101/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/money-monster | url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Julia Roberts (43838880775).jpg|thumb|upright|Roberts attending the premiere of ''[[Homecoming (TV series)|Homecoming]]'' at the [[2018 Toronto International Film Festival]]]]

In ''[[Wonder (film)|Wonder]]'' (2017), the film adaptation of the [[Wonder (Palacio novel)|2012 novel of the same name]] by [[R. J. Palacio]], Roberts played the mother of a boy with [[Treacher Collins syndrome]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/welcome/996192/single/~room-star-jacob-tremblay-in-talks-for-lionsgates-wonder-exclusive~/|title=Welcome – TheWrap|website=www.thewrap.com|date=April 14, 2016|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006035057/https://www.thewrap.com/welcome/996192/single/~room-star-jacob-tremblay-in-talks-for-lionsgates-wonder-exclusive~/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Times'' felt that she "lifts every one of her scenes in ''Wonder'' to near-sublime places".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/film-review-wonder-mkxkkwvsn|title=Film review: Wonder|first=Kevin|last=Maher|date=December 1, 2017|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000812/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/film-review-wonder-mkxkkwvsn|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wonder/reviews/?page=3&sort=|title=Wonder – Movie Reviews – Rotten Tomatoes|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=December 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211075217/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wonder/reviews/?page=3&sort=|url-status=live}}</ref> With a worldwide gross of $305.9&nbsp;million, ''Wonder'' emerged as one of Roberts's most widely seen films.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2018/01/24/box-office-wonder-lives-up-to-its-name-passes-250m-worldwide/#4179a1d14f10|title=Box Office: Julia Roberts And Owen Wilson's 'Wonder' Passes $250M Worldwide|first=Scott|last=Mendelson|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006001531/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2018/01/24/box-office-wonder-lives-up-to-its-name-passes-250m-worldwide/#4179a1d14f10|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, she also voiced a motherly [[The Smurfs|Smurf]] leader in the animated film ''[[Smurfs: The Lost Village]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/julia-roberts-smurfs-the-lost-village-children/|title = Julia Roberts talks family and lessons from "Smurfs"|website = [[CBS News]]| date=April 6, 2017 |access-date = January 6, 2022|archive-date = January 6, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220106005450/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/julia-roberts-smurfs-the-lost-village-children/|url-status = live}}</ref>

Roberts portrayed the mother of a troubled young man in [[Peter Hedges]]'s drama ''[[Ben Is Back]]'' (2018). Shaun Kitchener of ''[[Daily Express]]'' remarked: "Roberts is often the best, or one of the best, things about any film she's in —and ''Ben Is Back'' is no different".<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1100538/Ben-Is-Back-review-Julia-Roberts-Lucas-Hedges-addiction-drama|title = Ben is Back REVIEW: Julia Roberts just about saves an uneven addiction drama|date = March 15, 2019|access-date = January 6, 2022|archive-date = January 6, 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220106005429/https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1100538/Ben-Is-Back-review-Julia-Roberts-Lucas-Hedges-addiction-drama|url-status = live}}</ref> The role of a caseworker at a secret government facility, in the first season of the psychological thriller series ''[[Homecoming (TV series)|Homecoming]]'', was Roberts's first regular television project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/julia-roberts-homecoming-premiere-date-amazon-sam-esmail-first-look-comic-con-video-1202430552/|title=Julia Roberts And Sam Esmail's 'Homecoming' Gets Premiere Date & Teaser Trailer – Comic-Con|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|date=July 20, 2018|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406230704/https://deadline.com/2018/07/julia-roberts-homecoming-premiere-date-amazon-sam-esmail-first-look-comic-con-video-1202430552/|url-status=live}}</ref> The series, which premiered on [[Amazon Video]] in November 2018, garnered acclaim from critics, who concluded it was an "impressive small-screen debut" for Roberts that "balances its haunting mystery with a frenetic sensibility that grips and doesn't let go."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/homecoming/s01/ |title=Homecoming: Season 1 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] |access-date=May 18, 2020 |archive-date=March 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312183044/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/homecoming/s01 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/homecoming/season-1 |title=Homecoming: Season 1 |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=November 9, 2018 |archive-date=September 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904202932/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/homecoming/season-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> She received a Golden Globe nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama|Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Snierson |first=Dan |title=Golden Globes 2019: See the full winners list |url=https://ew.com/golden-globes/2019/01/06/golden-globes-2019-winners-list/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 6, 2019 |date=January 6, 2019 |archive-date=January 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107110815/https://ew.com/golden-globes/2019/01/06/golden-globes-2019-winners-list/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2020s===
Roberts reunited with George Clooney for the romantic comedy ''[[Ticket to Paradise (2022 film)|Ticket to Paradise]]'', which was released by [[Universal Pictures]] on October 21, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/billie-lourd-on-for-ticket-to-paradise/|title=Billie Lourd On For ''Ticket To Paradise''|date=March 7, 2021|first=James|last=White|website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019223904/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/billie-lourd-on-for-ticket-to-paradise/|archive-date=October 19, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref> She also played [[Martha Mitchell]], a controversial figure throughout the [[Watergate scandal]], in the political thriller television series ''[[Gaslit (TV series)|Gaslit]]'', based on the first season of the podcast ''[[Slow Burn (podcast)|Slow Burn]]'' by [[Leon Neyfakh]].

Roberts also starred as Amanda Sandford in the 2023 film ''[[Leave the World Behind (film)|Leave the World Behind]]'', appearing alongside [[Ethan Hawke]] and [[Mahershala Ali]]. The movie is an adaptation of [[Leave the World Behind (novel)|the novel of the same name]] by [[Rumaan Alam]]. The film is produced by [[Barack Obama|Barack]] and [[Michelle Obama]]'s company, [[Higher Ground Productions]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-24 |title=What Julia Roberts is working on next – a glimpse into her upcoming star-studded projects |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20220824149195/julia-roberts-upcoming-star-studded-projects-revealed-details/ |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=HELLO! |archive-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829054048/https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20220824149195/julia-roberts-upcoming-star-studded-projects-revealed-details/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024, Roberts and [[Riley Keough]] would narrate the audiobook version of [[Lisa Marie Presley]]'s memoir ''[[From Here to the Great Unknown]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.today.com/parents/celebrity/riley-keough-michael-jackson-stepfather-rcna174854|title=Riley Keough on life with stepdad Michael Jackson — and her nickname for him|first=Anna|last=Kaplan|publisher=Today|date=October 10, 2024|access-date=October 10, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/julia-roberts-narrate-audiobook-lisa-marie-presley-memoir-1236011741/|title=Julia Roberts to Narrate Audiobook of Lisa Marie Presley's Posthumous Memoir|first=Lexy|last=Perez|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 25, 2024|access-date=October 10, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Julia-Roberts-to-Narrate-the-Audiobook-of-Lisa-Marie-Presleys-From-Here-to-the-Great-Unknown-Alongside-Riley-Keough.pdf|title=Julia Roberts To Narrate The Audiobook Of Lisa Marie Presley's From Here To The Great Unknown Alongside Riley Keough|publisher=Penguin Random House Audio Publishing|date=September 25, 2024|access-date=October 8, 2024}}</ref>

== Other ventures ==
===Philanthropy===
Roberts has contributed to [[United Nations Children's Fund|UNICEF]] as well as other charitable organizations. Her six-day visit to [[Port-au-Prince]], [[Haiti]] in 1995, as she said, "to educate myself",<ref name=haiti>{{cite news |date=May 29, 1995 |title=Educating Julia Roberts Brings a Touch of Useful Glamour to Haiti |work=[[People (American magazine)|People]]}}</ref><ref name=ambassador>{{cite magazine |title=UNICEF's Newest Goodwill Ambassador |date=May 29, 1995 |page=12 |volume=88 |issue=3 |magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]}}</ref> was expected to trigger an outburst of donations —$10 million in aid was sought at the time— by UNICEF officials.<ref name=haiti/><ref name=ambassador/> In 2006, she became a spokeswoman for Earth Biofuels as well as chair of the company's newly formed advisory board promoting the use of renewable fuels.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/PRN-Julia-Roberts-Joins-Earth-Biofuels-Inc-as-1857293.php|title=Julia Roberts Joins Earth Biofuels, Inc. as Spokesperson and Advisory Board Member|work=Houston Chronicle|location=Dallas|date=July 18, 2006|access-date=December 29, 2018|archive-date=December 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229220256/https://www.chron.com/news/article/PRN-Julia-Roberts-Joins-Earth-Biofuels-Inc-as-1857293.php|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, she was part of a [[Gucci]] campaign, "Chime for Change", that aims to spread female empowerment.<ref>{{cite web|last=Karmali|first=Sarah|title=Beyoncé Leads New Gucci Empowerment Campaign|url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/02/28/beyonce-knowles-salma-hayek-gucci-chime-for-change-campaign-frida-giannini|work=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|date=February 28, 2013|access-date=April 22, 2013|archive-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140914174013/http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/02/28/beyonce-knowles-salma-hayek-gucci-chime-for-change-campaign-frida-giannini|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2000, Roberts narrated a documentary about [[Rett syndrome]], a neurodevelopmental disorder,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dcmp.org/media/4204-silent-angels-the-rett-syndrome-story|title=Silent Angels: The Rett Syndrome Story|website=Described and Captioned Media Program|access-date=December 29, 2018|archive-date=December 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229172010/https://dcmp.org/media/4204-silent-angels-the-rett-syndrome-story|url-status=live}}</ref> designed to help raise public awareness about the disease, and in 2014, she was the voice of [[Mother Nature]] in a short film for the [[Conservation International]] campaign ''[[Nature Is Speaking]]'', intended to raise [[Climate change education|awareness about climate change]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conservation.org/NewsRoom/pressreleases/Pages/Conservation-International-Launches-Celebrity-Studded-Awareness-Campaign-Nature-Is-Speaking.aspx|title=Conservation International Launches Celebrity Studded Awareness Campaign Nature Is Speaking|access-date=November 9, 2014|date=October 6, 2014|publisher=—Conservation International|archive-date=October 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030174836/http://www.conservation.org/NewsRoom/pressreleases/Pages/Conservation-International-Launches-Celebrity-Studded-Awareness-Campaign-Nature-Is-Speaking.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Production company===
Roberts runs the production company Red Om Films (Red Om is "Moder" spelled backwards, after her husband's last name<ref>Julia: Her Life, James Spada, page 423</ref>) with her sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan, and Marisa Yeres Gill.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Roberts taps Red Om partner |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/roberts-taps-red-om-partner-1118061857/ |first=Justin |last=Kroll |magazine=Variety |date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=December 10, 2017 |archive-date=December 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225123521/http://variety.com/2012/film/news/roberts-taps-red-om-partner-1118061857/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Through Red Om, Roberts has served as an executive producer for various projects she has starred in such as ''Eat Pray Love'' and ''Homecoming'',  as well as for the first four films of the ''[[American Girl (film series)|American Girl]]'' film series (based on the ''[[American Girl]]'' line of dolls), released between 2004 and 2008.

===Endorsements===
In 2006, Roberts signed an endorsement deal with fashion label [[Gianfranco Ferre]], valued at $6 million. She was photographed by [[Mario Testino]] in Los Angeles for the brand's advertising campaign, which was distributed in [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/celebrity/julia-new-face-of-ferre-fashion/|title=Julia: New Face of Ferre Fashion|work=Peoplemag |access-date=January 8, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109165434/https://people.com/celebrity/julia-new-face-of-ferre-fashion/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2009, Roberts has acted as [[Lancôme]]'s global ambassador, a role in which she has been involved in the development and promotion of the brand's range of cosmetics and beauty products.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vogue.in/content/julia-roberts-lancme-ambassador |title=Julia Roberts Lancôme Ambassador |first=Nidhi |last=Sharma |date=1 June 2010 |magazine=[[Vogue India]] |access-date=January 8, 2022 |archive-date=January 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109165458/https://www.vogue.in/content/julia-roberts-lancme-ambassador |url-status=live }}</ref> She initially signed a five-year extension with the company for $50 million in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.luxurydaily.com/lancome-to-secure-spokesperson-julia-roberts-for-50-million/|title=Lancome to secure spokeswoman Julia Roberts for $50M|access-date=May 22, 2019|date=September 24, 2010|work=Luxury Daily|last=Bonneville|first=Kaitlyn|archive-date=April 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408053451/http://www.luxurydaily.com/lancome-to-secure-spokesperson-julia-roberts-for-50-million/|url-status=live}}</ref> Roberts starred as the global face of [[Chopard]]'s Happy Sport and Happy Diamonds collections campaigns since 2021 and then Chopard had announced her as its Global Brand Ambassador in 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chopard.com/en-qa/our-magazine/chopard-loves-cinema-campaign-with-julia-roberts.html|title=Chopard Loves Cinema|access-date=December 11, 2023|date=March 20, 2023|work=Chopard|archive-date=December 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211172015/https://www.chopard.com/en-qa/our-magazine/chopard-loves-cinema-campaign-with-julia-roberts.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Roberts endorsed President Joe Biden for [[Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign|re-election]] in 2024 and has been involved in related fundraising, even though Biden [[Withdrawal of Joe Biden from the 2024 United States presidential election|ended his re-election campaign]] on July 21, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can Political Endorsements From Stars Like Taylor Swift Make a Difference? |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/elections/articles/2024-06-14/can-political-endorsements-from-stars-like-taylor-swift-make-a-difference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-22 |title=President Joe Biden drops out of 2024 presidential race |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/president-joe-biden-drops-2024-presidential-race-rcna159867 |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

== Artistry ==

=== Acting style and reception ===
Throughout her career, Roberts has frequently been referred to as "[[America's Sweetheart|America's sweetheart]]" by the media,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=November 30, 2005 |title=Julia Roberts: America's sweetheart |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4484644.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125082756/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4484644.stm |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[BBC News Online]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ng |first=Philiana |date=November 2, 2018 |title=The Inside Story Behind Julia Roberts' 'Homecoming,' Amazon's Latest Binge-Worthy Show (Exclusive) |url=https://www.etonline.com/the-inside-story-behind-julia-roberts-homecoming-amazons-latest-binge-worthy-show-exclusive-112885 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908090353/https://www.etonline.com/the-inside-story-behind-julia-roberts-homecoming-amazons-latest-binge-worthy-show-exclusive-112885 |archive-date=September 8, 2024 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[Entertainment Tonight]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tingley |first=Anna |date=June 4, 2019 |title=Why Julia Roberts Never Thought of Herself as 'America's Sweetheart' |url=https://variety.com/video/julia-roberts-americas-sweetheart-actors-on-actors/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240823181257/https://variety.com/video/julia-roberts-americas-sweetheart-actors-on-actors/ |archive-date=August 23, 2024 |access-date=March 21, 2025 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> a label that ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'' writer Noor Brara linked to her portrayals of characters that embody elements of the trope.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Brara |first=Noor |date=April 22, 2017 |title=5 Things You Didn't Know About Julia Roberts |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/julia-roberts-5-things-you-didnt-know |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114174228/https://www.vogue.com/article/julia-roberts-5-things-you-didnt-know |archive-date=November 14, 2023 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]}}</ref> [[BBC News Online]] attributed her early popularity to her roles as relatable, [[Girl next door|girl-next-door]] characters,<ref name=":0" /> often portraying vulnerable [[Working class|working-class]] women.<ref name=":5" /> Geoffrey Macnab of ''[[The Independent]]'' noted that during her peak, Roberts' appeal stemmed from her ability to blend the glamour of [[Classical Hollywood cinema#Major figures from classical Hollywood cinema|classic Hollywood stars]] with an approachable, down-to-earth quality.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Macnab |first=Geoffrey |date=March 13, 2009 |title=Julia Roberts - Has cinema's queen lost her crown? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/julia-roberts-has-cinema-s-queen-lost-her-crown-1643714.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220051721/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/julia-roberts-has-cinema-s-queen-lost-her-crown-1643714.html |archive-date=February 20, 2025 |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> While romantic comedies cemented her status as an international star, ''Erin Brockovich'' is often cited as the film that earned her broader critical recognition as an actress.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shark |first=Taya |date=October 31, 2024 |title=Julia Roberts – Hollywood's Queen with a million-dollar smile |url=https://elleuzbekistan.com/en/julia-roberts-hollywood-s-queen-with-a-million-dollar-smile/ |access-date=March 21, 2025 |work=[[Elle (magazine)|ELLE Uzbekistan]]}}</ref><ref name=":12" /> Film critic [[David Edelstein]] observed that while Roberts is widely acknowledged as a movie star, critics and [[Cinephilia|cinephiles]] have debated the extent of her acting abilities, sometimes discussing her work with a degree of skepticism.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Edelstein |first=David |author-link=David Edelstein |date=April 13, 2006 |title=The Close-Up Is Her Voodoo |url=https://nymag.com/news/profiles/16712/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225130131/https://nymag.com/news/profiles/16712/ |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]}}</ref><ref name=":12" /> In 2012, ''[[HuffPost]]'' writer Mike Ryan suggested that her career has relied more on her star power than on widespread acclaim for her acting, noting that she is not often included in discussions of the industry's most celebrated actresses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ryan |first=Mike |date=March 30, 2012 |title=Julia Roberts Is Mean |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/julia-roberts-is-mean_b_1389713 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref>

Some critics have pointed out that Roberts has frequently played characters with traits similar to her own,<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Singer |first=Matt |date=September 15, 2014 |title=How Julia Roberts became an icon playing the Girl Next Door |url=https://thedissolve.com/features/career-view/752-julia-roberts-weepy-sexless-sweetheart-vs-julie-ro/ |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=[[The Dissolve]] |quote=no matter who she plays, she's often also playing “Julia Roberts,”}}</ref><ref name=":13" /> contributing to a screen presence that journalist and filmmaker [[Bilge Ebiri]] described as difficult to separate from her public persona.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Ebiri |first=Bilge |author-link=Bilge Ebiri |date=November 21, 2017 |title=Every Julia Roberts Performance, Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-julia-roberts-movie-ranked.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421214347/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-julia-roberts-movie-ranked.html |archive-date=April 21, 2024 |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]}}</ref> John Anderson of ''[[The Seattle Times]]'' described her as "an actress who has never really been required to act".<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=John |date=March 22, 2009 |title=Julia Roberts returns to the limelight |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/julia-roberts-returns-to-the-limelight/ |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> Matt Singer of ''[[The Dissolve]]'' said "Roberts has rarely strayed far from the onscreen persona that made her one of the biggest movie stars in history—that of a simple girl of limited means and unlimited heart, pulling herself up by her bootstraps".<ref name=":12" /> Attempts to divert from this image in the 1990s met with mixed responses,<ref name=":9" /> though Macnab noted her versatility in transitioning between romantic comedies, thrillers, period dramas, and independent films.<ref name=":8" /> Jihane Bousfiha of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' said that while her grace, warmth, and charisma "permeates all of her roles", no genre has highlighted these qualities as effectively as romantic comedies, describing her its "undisputed queen".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bousfiha |first=Jihane |date=October 19, 2022 |title=Every Julia Roberts Romantic Comedy, Ranked |url=https://time.com/6223174/julia-roberts-rom-coms-ranked/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430073600/https://time.com/6223174/julia-roberts-rom-coms-ranked/ |archive-date=April 30, 2024 |access-date=March 20, 2025 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> Film critic and historian [[David Thomson (film critic)|David Thomson]] wrote in ''[[Salon magazine|Salon]]'' that he once received letters from upset fans over suggesting that Roberts' talent was being misused in some of her then-recent film roles.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thomson |first=David |author-link=David Thomson (film critic) |date=December 13, 2001 |title=Hold your fire |url=https://www.salon.com/2001/12/13/julia_2/ |access-date=March 21, 2025 |work=[[Salon.com|Salon]]}}</ref> Director [[Mike Nichols]], who worked with her on ''Charlie Wilson's War'', argued that her beauty sometimes overshadowed her acting skills, praising her intelligence, preparation, and ability to fully embody her characters.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Rozen |first=Leah |date=April 29, 2010 |title=Mother and Mega-Star, Happily Balanced |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/movies/02roberts.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715132530/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/movies/02roberts.html |archive-date=July 15, 2024 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The actress said she does not have any acting techniques, commenting, "there's nothing more boring than actors sitting around talking about acting".<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 4, 2010 |title=Julia Roberts |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a11346/julia-roberts-462418/ |access-date=January 21, 2025 |work=[[Elle (magazine)|Elle]]}}</ref>

Since ''Eat Pray Love'', Roberts has largely moved away from the romantic comedy roles that defined much of her early career, instead gravitating toward more dramatic, character-driven projects, including supporting roles in ensemble films.<ref name=":11">{{Cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Amy |date=December 26, 2013 |title=Julia Roberts: From America's Sweetheart to neighborhood mom |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-dec-26-la-et-mn-julia-roberts-osage-county-20131227-story.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412080304/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-dec-26-la-et-mn-julia-roberts-osage-county-20131227-story.html |archive-date=April 12, 2024 |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> She has attributed this shift to evolving opportunities, personal growth, and the increasing complexity of roles available to her with age.<ref name=":6" /> Roberts has cited [[Frances McDormand]], [[Annette Bening]], and [[Meryl Streep]] as actresses she admires for balancing successful careers with family life.<ref name=":3" />

=== Public image ===
Roberts has been recognized as one of the defining actors of her generation,<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Clayton |date=October 28, 2022 |title=Julia Roberts' 10 Best Film Performances: From 'Pretty Woman' to 'Erin Brockovich' |url=https://variety.com/lists/julia-roberts-best-movies-performances-ranked/the-pelican-brief-1993/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109141353/https://variety.com/lists/julia-roberts-best-movies-performances-ranked/the-pelican-brief-1993/ |archive-date=January 9, 2023 |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> and among the most influential actresses of the 1990s and early 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 15, 2025 |title=Julia Roberts – American actress |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julia-Roberts |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]}}</ref> During her peak, several publications described her as the world's biggest movie star.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Amy |date=December 5, 2018 |title=Julia Roberts knows what she wants, and being a 'movie star' isn't high on the list |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-julia-roberts-ben-is-back-homecoming-20181205-story.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613120337/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-julia-roberts-ben-is-back-homecoming-20181205-story.html |archive-date=June 13, 2024 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |quote=one of the biggest movie stars in the world.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gilchrist |first=Ava |title=This Is The One Piece Of Beauty Advice Julia Roberts Wishes Her Younger Self Knew |url=https://graziamagazine.com/us/articles/julia-roberts-beauty-advice/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318162829/https://graziamagazine.com/us/articles/julia-roberts-beauty-advice/ |archive-date=March 18, 2025 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[Grazia]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=November 17, 2017 |title=Julia Roberts' rise to $190M stardom |url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/life-style-weekly/20171117/284339724908616 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318162829/https://www.pressreader.com/usa/life-style-weekly/20171117/284339724908616?srsltid=AfmBOoomBxBnn1xB6aaM4GY6DniKn3EWt-oJs1deCAL9vbRk28BlXKLc |archive-date=March 18, 2025 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[Life & Style (magazine)|Life & Style]] |via=[[PressReader]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Knegt |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Knegt |date=January 8, 2021 |title=The 21 greatest movie award speeches of all time |url=https://www.cbc.ca/arts/the-21-greatest-movie-award-speeches-of-all-time-1.5579183 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922030704/https://www.cbc.ca/arts/the-21-greatest-movie-award-speeches-of-all-time-1.5579183 |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=[[CBC.ca]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dams |first=Tim |date=August 9, 2024 |title='Erin Brockovich' producer Stacey Sher: 'This is a job of psychotic optimism' |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/erin-brockovich-producer-stacey-sher-this-is-a-job-of-psychotic-optimism/5196121.article |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241126224832/https://www.screendaily.com/news/erin-brockovich-producer-stacey-sher-this-is-a-job-of-psychotic-optimism/5196121.article |archive-date=November 26, 2024 |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=[[Screen Daily]]}}</ref> Ebiri called her "more than a movie star ... she was an existential fact" and "a dominant cultural force".<ref name=":9" /> Reporting on her star power in 1995, ''[[The New York Times]]''’ Josh Young described her as a "rainmaker for women's films", with the ability to guarantee a film's opening weekend audience and even [[greenlight]] a project simply by agreeing to star in it.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Josh |date=October 1, 1995 |title=When Julia Roberts Says No, Other Actresses Cry, Thanks! |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/01/arts/when-julia-roberts-says-no-other-actresses-cry-thanks.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622141401/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/01/arts/when-julia-roberts-says-no-other-actresses-cry-thanks.html |archive-date=June 22, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> He also noted that her peers had benefited by accepting roles she had turned down.<ref name=":4" /> Roberts’ agent at the time, Elaine Goldsmith, credited her as one of the actresses in the 1990s who helped convince studios that women could lead films as successfully as men.<ref name=":4" /> According to Leah Rozen of ''The New York Times'', she remained "the biggest female box office draw for 20 years".<ref name=":3" /> Roberts has also been recognized as a pioneer in pushing for [[Inequality in Hollywood#Actors vs. Actresses|gender pay equity in Hollywood]], negotiating salaries on par with her male counterparts.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Utley |first=Riley |date=August 27, 2023 |title=What Julia Roberts, Jennifer Lawrence And 5 Other Actresses Have Said About The Pay Gap |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/what-julia-roberts-jennifer-lawrence-and-other-actresses-said-about-pay-gap |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[CinemaBlend]]}}</ref> The then-unprecedented $20 million salary she commanded set a new standard for actresses' compensation, according to BBC News Online.<ref name=":0" /> She was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood for much of the 1990s and early 2000s.<ref name=":7" /> In 2000, Roberts became the first actress to be included on ''The Hollywood Reporter''<nowiki/>'s list of the 50 most influential women in show business, on which she was ranked the third most powerful woman in entertainment.<ref name="RfaoHRpl" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Hugh |date=December 5, 2001 |title=Julia Roberts crowned queen of Hollywood |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1364433/Julia-Roberts-crowned-queen-of-Hollywood.html |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> In 2002, she became the first woman to be ranked the most bankable star in Hollywood based on an industry poll by the same publication, tying her with male actors [[Tom Cruise]] and Tom Hanks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 4, 2002 |title=Julia Roberts Puts Women on Top in Hollywood for the First Time |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20020205928446/bigstars/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=[[Hello! (magazine)|Hello]]}}</ref> As her career progressed, journalists began speculating whether her name alone could still guarantee box office success, particularly as some of her later films saw mixed commercial results.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=May 6, 2016 |title=Julia Roberts' Box-Office Power in Question |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/julia-roberts-box-office-power-890862/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102015115/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/julia-roberts-box-office-power-890862/ |archive-date=January 2, 2024 |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnard |first=Linda |date=May 8, 2016 |title=Is Julia Roberts off Hollywood's A list? |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/is-julia-roberts-off-hollywood-s-a-list/article_efde1138-2c49-50bd-a624-2c724873f90c.html |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=[[Toronto Star]]}}</ref> By 2017, Roberts stated that she no longer actively pursued roles but instead waited to see what opportunities arose.<ref name=":6" /> She has maintained that she is selective about her projects and that her agents never try to persuade her to take on a role.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":6" />

Roberts has stated that she has successfully maintained a clear separation between her personal life and her acting career.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Delcroix |first=Olivier |date=March 24, 2009 |title=A role that is the opposite of my personality |url=https://www-lefigaro-fr.translate.goog/cinema/2009/03/24/03002-20090324ARTFIG00524-un-role-aux-antipodes-de-ma-personnalite-.php?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[Le Figaro]] |language=French}}</ref> Kaufman likened her public image to that of leading a [[double life]], balancing her role as both a mother and one of the most recognizable faces globally.<ref name=":11" /> In 2009, a critic for ''The New Yorker'' suggested that while Roberts is a skilled actress, her technical abilities might not always match the emotional depth required for audiences to fully connect with her performances, partly due to the distance she maintains in her public persona.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 27, 2009 |title=Duplicity |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/duplicity |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323000836/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/duplicity |archive-date=March 23, 2023 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref> For ''Vulture'', [[Go Fug Yourself|The Fug Girls]] described Roberts' public persona, which they dubbed "Julianess", as an overwhelming display of confidence and charm that at times borders on arrogance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=The Fug Girls |author-link=Go Fug Yourself |date=June 29, 2011 |title=The Fug Girls Rate Julia Roberts's Movies on their Grinning, Brassy Julia-ness |url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/06/fug_girls_on_julia_roberts.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121064915/https://www.vulture.com/2011/06/fug_girls_on_julia_roberts.html |archive-date=November 21, 2023 |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]}}</ref> Natalie Finn of [[E!]] observed that the media constantly compares younger, up-and-coming actresses to Roberts in an attempt to crown a spiritual successor, which Finn declared an unfair comparison.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Finn |first=Natalie |date=October 26, 2017 |title=There Will Never Be a "Next Julia Roberts": Debunking Hollywood's Favorite Fruitless Comparison |url=https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/889729/there-will-never-be-a-next-julia-roberts-debunking-hollywood-s-favorite-fruitless-comparison |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=[[E!]]}}</ref> Some journalists have noted reports of Roberts being challenging to work with, citing alleged conflicts with certain directors and co-stars.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burtt |first=Kristyn |date=January 12, 2024 |title=Julia Roberts Addresses the Long-Held Rumor That She's Difficult To Work With |url=https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/2934103/julia-roberts-difficult-reputation-hollywood/ |access-date=March 21, 2025 |work=[[SheKnows]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Soteriou |first=Stephanie |date=January 27, 2024 |title=Julia Roberts Alluded To Her Difficult Reputation And Admitted She Holds Back From Being 'Too Friendly' On Movie Sets |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/julia-roberts-difficult-reputation_n_65b402ace4b014b873b10c3c |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref> In a 2024 interview with filmmaker [[Richard Curtis]], she finally addressed these rumors, which she attributed to conscious efforts she has made not appear overly friendly on film sets to avoid being taken advantage of and forthright personality, but maintains that she never intends to hurt others.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Curtis |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Curtis |date=January 11, 2024 |title=The Meet Cute: Julia Roberts Opens Up To Richard Curtis About Her Rom-Com-Perfect Marriage, The Secret To Ageing Gracefully & Why She Almost Turned Down Notting Hill |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/julia-roberts-british-vogue-cover-interview |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=[[British Vogue]]}}</ref> Edelstein observed that early in her career, Roberts was known for being edgy, hypersensitive, and difficult on set, though later profiles have emphasized her efforts to be seen as more down-to-earth.<ref name=":5" />

Journalists and critics have frequently commented on Roberts' physical appearance and sex appeal.<ref name=":14">{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Patrick |author-link=Patrick Goldstein |date=March 23, 1990 |title=Julia Roberts--Living Life in the Fast Lane : Film: In just three years, the Oscar nominee has gone from star-struck newcomer to a formidable member of the elite $1 million-a-movie club. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-23-ca-796-story.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210073253/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-23-ca-796-story.html |archive-date=December 10, 2023 |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |quote=Enamored by her spunky personality and full-lipped sex appeal, smitten critics have tossed bouquets at her feet.}}</ref> However, film critic [[Patrick Goldstein]] and celebrity stylist [[Phillip Bloch|Philip Bloch]] stated that Roberts never fully embodied the [[sex symbol]] role, despite her attractiveness.<ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stewart |first=Anna |date=October 11, 2007 |title=Movie icon Julia Roberts sets style |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/movie-icon-julia-roberts-sets-style-1117973885/ |access-date=March 20, 2025 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Singer observed that "For a woman who became famous playing a prostitute, Roberts has maintained a surprisingly [[Asexuality|asexual]] onscreen persona", rarely performing [[sex scenes]].<ref name=":12" /> ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine has named Roberts the "[[People (magazine)#100 Most Beautiful People|World's Most Beautiful Woman]]" a record-breaking five times, most recently in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 19, 2017 |title=People magazine names Julia Roberts 'World's Most Beautiful Woman' |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/people-julia-roberts-beautiful-1.4075318 |access-date=March 20, 2025 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |via=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Ancestry===
On a 2023 episode of ''[[Finding Your Roots]]'', Roberts learned that the surname of her biological paternal great-great-grandfather was actually Mitchell, not Roberts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Julia Roberts Isn't ACTUALLY Julia "Roberts"?? - Finding Your Roots |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sXCRjTtHNU |website=Ancestry | date=January 3, 2023 |access-date=6 January 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106025153/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sXCRjTtHNU&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

Roberts also learned her ancestors owned slaves: "You have to figure, if you are from the South, you're on one side of it or the other. It just seems very typical of that time, unfortunately. ... You can't turn your back on history, even when you become a part of it in a way that doesn't align with your personal compass."<ref>{{cite web |title=Julia Roberts feels 'sad' after discovering her ancestor's connection to slavery: Here's why |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1027498-julia-roberts-feels-sad-after-discovering-her-ancestors-connection-to-slavery-heres-why |website=The News International |publisher=Jang Group |access-date=6 January 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106025154/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1027498-julia-roberts-feels-sad-after-discovering-her-ancestors-connection-to-slavery-heres-why |url-status=live }}</ref>

Roberts is a distant cousin of fellow actor [[Edward Norton]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wittmer |first1=Carrie |title=Julia Roberts Just Discovered She's Related to This 'Glass Onion' Star |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/julia-roberts-just-discovered-shes-related-to-this-glass-onion-star |website=Glamour |date=January 4, 2023  |access-date=6 January 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106022336/https://www.glamour.com/story/julia-roberts-just-discovered-shes-related-to-this-glass-onion-star |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Relationships and family===
Roberts had romantic relationships with actors [[Jason Patric]],<ref name="Neuhaus">{{Cite magazine |last=Neuhaus |first=Cable |date=22 November 1991 |title=Julia Roberts: The Price of Fame |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/11/22/julia-roberts-price-fame/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=February 5, 2024 |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203155440/https://ew.com/article/1991/11/22/julia-roberts-price-fame/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Liam Neeson]], [[Kiefer Sutherland]], [[Dylan McDermott]], and [[Matthew Perry]].<ref name="Lague">{{cite news|last=Lague|first=Louise|date=July 1, 1991|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-miss-roberts-regrets-vol-35-no-25/|title=Miss Roberts Regrets|access-date=February 24, 2019|work=[[People (American magazine)|People]]|archive-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103304/https://people.com/archive/cover-story-miss-roberts-regrets-vol-35-no-25/|url-status=live}}</ref> She was briefly engaged to Sutherland; they broke up shortly before their scheduled wedding on June 14, 1991.<ref name="Lague"/> According to Roberts, it had been cancelled long before, not "days before the wedding" as the press claimed at the time,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Rensin |first=David |date=14 July 1994 |title=The Rolling Stone Interview: Julia Roberts |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/the-rolling-stone-interview-julia-roberts-53366/4/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=February 5, 2024 |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203155440/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/the-rolling-stone-interview-julia-roberts-53366/4/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and that it was a mutual decision.<ref name="Neuhaus"/> On June 25, 1993, she married country singer [[Lyle Lovett]]; the wedding took place at St. James Lutheran Church in [[Marion, Indiana]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Levitt|first=Shelley|date=August 8, 1994|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-state-of-their-union-vol-42-no-6/|title=State of Their Union|access-date=February 24, 2019|work=People|archive-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103250/https://people.com/archive/cover-story-state-of-their-union-vol-42-no-6/|url-status=live}}</ref> They separated in March 1995 and subsequently divorced.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schneider|first=Karen|date=April 10, 1995|url=https://people.com/archive/cover-story-one-last-sad-song-vol-43-no-14/|title=One Last Sad Song|access-date=February 24, 2019|work=[[People (American magazine)|People.com]]|archive-date=February 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103237/https://people.com/archive/cover-story-one-last-sad-song-vol-43-no-14/|url-status=live}}</ref> From 1998 to 2001, Roberts dated actor [[Benjamin Bratt]].<ref>Silverman, Stephen M. (July 11, 2001). [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,26334,622133,00.html "Julia Roberts Lays It on the Line"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214030910/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,26334,622133,00.html |date=February 14, 2015 }}. ''[[People (American magazine)|People]]''.</ref>

Roberts and her husband, cameraman [[Daniel Moder]], met on the set of her film ''[[The Mexican]]'' in 2000 while she was still dating Bratt. At the time, Moder was married to Vera Steimberg. He filed for divorce a little over a year later, and after it was finalized, he and Roberts wed on July 4, 2002,<ref name="cbgwedding">{{cite web|url=http://www.celebritybrideguide.com/danny-moder-julia-roberts-wedding/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212102108/http://www.celebritybrideguide.com/danny-moder-julia-roberts-wedding/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2009|title=Danny Moder and Julia Roberts Wedding|date=July 4, 2004|access-date=July 22, 2013|publisher=Celebrity Bride Guide}}</ref> at her ranch in [[Taos, New Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Schneider |first=Karen |title=Hideaway Bride |url=https://people.com/premium/hideaway-bride/ |work=[[People (American magazine)|People]] |date=July 11, 2002 |access-date=December 18, 2007 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220234319/http://people.com/premium/hideaway-bride/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Together, they have three children: twins, a daughter and a son, born in November 2004,<ref>{{cite web|title=Julia Roberts Gives Birth to Twins|url=https://people.com/celebrity/julia-roberts-gives-birth-to-twins/|work=People|date=November 28, 2004|access-date=October 24, 2022|archive-date=October 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024173352/https://people.com/celebrity/julia-roberts-gives-birth-to-twins/|url-status=live}}</ref> and another son born in June 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/celebrity/julia-roberts-welcomes-a-baby-boy/|title=Julia Roberts Welcomes a Baby Boy|work=People|date=June 18, 2007|access-date=February 24, 2018|archive-date=March 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301225351/http://people.com/celebrity/julia-roberts-welcomes-a-baby-boy/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Religious beliefs===
In 2010, Roberts said she was [[Hindu]], having converted for "spiritual satisfaction".<ref name="telegraph1">{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Heidi |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/7928961/Julia-Roberts-Im-a-Hindu.html |title=Julia Roberts: I'm a Hindu |date=August 5, 2010 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |access-date=April 3, 2018 |archive-date=April 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420134225/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/7928961/Julia-Roberts-Im-a-Hindu.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Roy|first=Subhamoy|date=10 January 2019|title=Why Julia Roberts Became a Hindu|url=https://www.learnreligions.com/why-julia-roberts-became-a-hindu-1769989|url-status=live|website=Learn Religions|access-date=October 28, 2021|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028160049/https://www.learnreligions.com/why-julia-roberts-became-a-hindu-1769989}}</ref> Roberts is a devotee of the [[guru]] [[Neem Karoli Baba]] (Maharaj-ji), a picture of whom drew Roberts to Hinduism.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Entertainment/video/julia-roberts-journey-eat-pray-love-11356429 |title=Julia Roberts' Journey in 'Eat Pray Love' |date=August 9, 2010 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=October 6, 2010 |archive-date=August 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817014104/http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Entertainment/video/julia-roberts-journey-eat-pray-love-11356429 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2009, Swami Daram Dev of Ashram Hari Mandir in [[Pataudi]], where Roberts was shooting ''[[Eat Pray Love]]'', gave her children new names after Hindu gods: [[Lakshmi]] for Hazel, [[Ganesh]] for Phinnaeus and [[Krishna]] [[Balram]] for Henry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Julia-Roberts-names-children-after-Hindu-gods/articleshow/5047870.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212075902/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-23/india/28083655_1_julia-roberts-phinnaeus-names|url-status=live|archive-date=December 12, 2013|title=Julia Roberts names children after Hindu gods|access-date=November 19, 2013|date=September 24, 2009|work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

===Political views===
Roberts supported [[Kamala Harris]] during the [[2024 United States presidential election]]. She appeared with Harris in a campaign rally in the [[swing state]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and also voiced a [[Campaign advertising|political advertisement]] for Harris.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/4928968-julia-roberts-harris-georgia-warnock-abrams-emhoff/|title=Julia Roberts stumps for Harris in Georgia|date=October 11, 2024| first= Filip |last= Timotija| work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref><ref name="Harris-Ad">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/trump-slams-julia-roberts-harris-ad-cringe-1236198497/|title=Donald Trump Slams Julia Roberts for Narrating Ad Urging Wives to Vote for Kamala Harris: 'She's Going to Look Back at That and She's Going to Cringe'|newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 2, 2024|first1= J. Kim| last1= Murphy| first2=  Michaela| last2= Zee}}</ref> [[Donald Trump]], who ran against Harris in the election, criticized Roberts for her role in the advertisement.<ref name="Harris-Ad"/>

===Personal habits===
Roberts has a preference for going [[barefoot]], including at public events like film festivals, talk shows, and her wedding to [[Lyle Lovett]]. Her barefoot habit was incorporated into a number of her movie roles, including [[Tinker Bell]] in ''[[Hook (film)|Hook]]''.<ref>[https://people.com/celebrity/julia-roberts-barefoot-from-cannes-to-pretty-woman/ From 'Pretty Woman' to Cannes: Every Time Julia Roberts Famously Rocked the Barefoot Look]</ref><ref>[https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/julia-roberts-went-barefoot-on-the-cannes-red-carpet-31588028.html Julia Roberts Went Barefoot on the Cannes Red Carpet]</ref>

== Filmography and accolades ==
{{Main|Julia Roberts filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Julia Roberts|l2=awards and nominations}}
Roberts's films that have earned the most at the box office, {{as of|2021|lc=on}}, include:<ref>{{cite web |title=Catherine Zeta-Jones |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/name/nm0000210/ |website=Box Office Mojo |url-status=live |access-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106031756/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/name/nm0000210/ }}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* ''[[Pretty Woman]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Hook (film)|Hook]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Sleeping with the Enemy]]'' (1991)
* ''[[The Pelican Brief (film)|The Pelican Brief]]'' (1993)
* ''[[My Best Friend's Wedding]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Notting Hill (film)|Notting Hill]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Runaway Bride (film)|Runaway Bride]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Ocean's Eleven]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Ocean's Twelve]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Charlie Wilson's War (film)|Charlie Wilson's War]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Valentine's Day (2010 film)|Valentine's Day]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Eat Pray Love]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Mirror Mirror (film)|Mirror Mirror]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Money Monster]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Wonder (film)|Wonder]]'' (2017)
}}

Roberts has received four [[Academy Award]] nominations, winning for [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] at the [[73rd Academy Awards]], for her titular portrayal in ''Erin Brockovich'', which additionally earned her a [[Golden Globe]], a [[BAFTA Award]] and a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]]. She won Golden Globe Awards for her performances in ''Steel Magnolias'' and ''Pretty Woman'',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/6b5d7432e9254823aab93f261e90e030 |title=Julia Roberts to receive George Eastman Award for movie work |date=February 18, 2019 |work=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=January 6, 2022 |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514180041/https://apnews.com/article/6b5d7432e9254823aab93f261e90e030 |url-status=live }}</ref> and as of 2019, has garnered eight nominations. Roberts received two [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] nominations, one for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series]], for her guest-role on ''[[Law & Order]]'', and the other for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie]], for her performance in ''[[The Normal Heart (film)|The Normal Heart]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/julia-roberts|title=Julia Roberts|access-date=January 6, 2022|archive-date=February 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203225827/http://www.emmys.com/bios/julia-roberts|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 28, 2025, Roberts was honored by French Minister of Culture [[Rachida Dati]] as a [[Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters]] (''Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'') for her significant contribution to world cinema.<ref>[https://www.culture.gouv.fr/fr/presse/agenda-ministre/agenda-previsionnel-de-madame-rachida-dati-ministre-de-la-culture-du-lundi-24-fevrier-au-vendredi-28-fevrier-2025 Agenda prévisionnel de Madame Rachida Dati, ministre de la Culture, du lundi 24 février au vendredi 28 février 2025] - websote of the [[Ministry of Culture (France)|Ministry of Culture of France]]</ref><ref>[https://www.vanityfair.fr/article/rachida-dati-decore-julia-roberts-avant-les-cesar-2025 Rachida Dati décore Julia Roberts avant les César 2025] - website of fashion magazine [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist
| refs =

<!--unused<ref name="boxgross">
{{cite web
| url = https://boxofficemojo.com/people/?view=Actor&sort=sumgross&p=.htm
| title = People Index
| website=Box Office Mojo
| date = December 15, 2012
| access-date =December 15, 2012
}}
</ref>-->
}}

==Further reading==
* [[Mark Bego]]. ''Julia Roberts: America's Sweetheart'' (New York: AMI Books, 2003). {{ISBN|1932270094}}.
* Paul Donnelley. ''Julia Roberts Confidential: The Unauthorised Biography'' (London: Virgin, 2003). {{ISBN|1852270233}}.
* James Spada. ''Julia: Her Life'' (New York: St Martin's Press, 2004). {{ISBN|0312285655}}
* [[Frank Sanello]]. ''Julia Roberts: Pretty Superstar'' (Edinburgh: Mainstream 2010). {{ISBN|1845966651}}.

==External links==
{{sister project links|commons=category:Julia Roberts|wikt=no |v=no |n=no |s=no |b=no}}
* {{IMDb name|210}}
* {{IBDB name|403590}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes-person|julia_roberts}}

{{Navboxes
| title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Julia Roberts|Awards for Julia Roberts]]
| list  =
{{AcademyAwardBestActress 1981-2000}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Actress 2000-2019}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress}}
{{Donostia Award}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestActressMotionPictureDrama 1981-2000}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestActressMotionPictureMusicalComedy 1981-2000}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestSuppActressMotionPicture 1981-2000}}
{{Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year}}
{{Honorary César}}
{{Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress}}
{{London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress 1981-2000}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Performance}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Actress}}
{{People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress}}
{{Satellite Award Best Actress Television Series Drama}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward FemaleLeadMotionPicture 1994–2000}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Julia}}
[[Category:Julia Roberts| ]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Hindus]]
[[Category:21st-century Hindus]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Actors Studio alumni]]
[[Category:Actresses from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Actresses from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Actresses from New Mexico]]
[[Category:American female models]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American film producers]]
[[Category:American Hindus]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of French descent]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Swedish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Welsh descent]]
[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American voice actresses]]
[[Category:American women film producers]]
[[Category:Best Actress Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Roberts family (show business)|Julia]]
[[Category:Best Actress BAFTA Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Drama Actress Golden Globe (film) winners]]
[[Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners]]
[[Category:Converts to Hinduism from Christianity]]
[[Category:Former Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Smyrna, Georgia]]
[[Category:People from Taos, New Mexico]]