Julia Roberts Biography

Name:Julia Fiona Roberts

Date of Birth:October 28, 1967

Place of Birth:Atlanta, Georgia

Julia Fiona Roberts  is an American actress. Julia Roberts became a Hollywood star after headlining the romantic comedy Pretty Woman (1990), which grossed $464 million worldwide. After receiving Golden Globe Awards and Academy Award nominations for Steel Magnolias (1989) and Pretty Woman, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in for her performance in Erin Brockovich (2000). Julia Roberts films My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), Mystic Pizza (1988), Notting Hill (1999), Runaway Bride (1999), Valentine's Day (2010), The Pelican Brief (1993), Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Twelve (2004) have collectively brought box office receipts of over $2.4 billion, making her one of the most successful actors in terms of box office receipts.

Roberts had become one of the highest-paid actresses in the world, topping the Hollywood Reporter's annual "power list" of top-earning female stars from 2005 to 2006. Julia Roberts  fee for 1990's Pretty Woman was $300,000; in 2003, she was paid an unprecedented $25 million for her role in Mona Lisa Smile (2003). As of 2010, Roberts's net worth was estimated to be $140 million.

Roberts has been named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" eleven times, tied with Halle Berry. In 2001, Ladies Home Journal ranked her as the 11th most powerful woman in America, ahead of then national security advisor Condoleezza Rice and former first lady Laura Bush. Roberts has a production company called Red Om Films.

Early Life and Family

Roberts was born in Atlanta, Georgia, at Crawford Long Hospital (now Emory University Hospital Midtown), to Betty Lou (née Bredemus) and Walter Grady Roberts. Julia Roberts  is of English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German, and Swedish descent.Julia Roberts parents were Baptist and Catholic, and she was raised Catholic.Julia Roberts older brother Eric Roberts (from whom she was estranged until 2004), sister Lisa Roberts Gillan, and niece Emma Roberts, are also actors. Julia's parents, one-time actors and playwrights, met while performing theatrical productions for the armed forces and later co-founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop in Atlanta, Georgia, off Juniper Street in Midtown. While her mother was pregnant with Julia, she and her husband ran an acting school for children in Decatur, Georgia. The children of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King attended the school. As a thank-you for their service, Mrs. King paid the hospital bill when Julia's mother gave birth to Julia. Julia's mother filed for divorce in 1971, with the divorce being finalized early in 1972. The family moved to Smyrna, Georgia in 1972, where Roberts attended Fitzhugh Lee Elementary School, Griffin Middle School, and Campbell High School. Julia Roberts mother married Michael Motes and had daughter Nancy Motes in 1976. Julia's father died of cancer when she was ten.

Roberts wanted to be a veterinarian as a child. Julia Roberts   played clarinet in the band in school. After graduating from Smyrna's Campbell High School, she headed to New York to pursue a career in acting. Once there, she signed with the Click Modeling Agency and enrolled in acting classes. Julia Roberts reverted to her original name, "Julia Roberts", when she discovered that a "Julie Roberts" already was registered with the Screen Actors Guild.

Career

1986–1989

Roberts made her first big screen appearance in the film Satisfaction (1988), released on February 12, 1988, alongside Liam Neesan and Justine Bateman, as a band member looking for a summer gig. Julia Roberts  had previously performed a small role opposite her brother, Eric, in Blood Red (1986) (she has two words of dialogue), filmed in 1987 and released in 1989. Julia Roberts  first television appearance was as a juvenile rape victim in the initial season of the series Crime Story with Dennis Farina, in the episode titled "The Survivor", broadcast on February 13, 1987. Julia Roberts first critical success with moviegoers was her performance in the independent film Mystic Pizza in 1988;that same year, she had a role in the fourth season finale of Miami Vice. In 1989, she was featured in Steel Magnolias, as a young bride with diabetes, and received both her first Academy Award nomination (as Best Supporting Actress) and first Golden Globe Award win (Motion Picture Best Supporting Actress) for her performance.

Roberts in 1990, 

1990–2000

Roberts became known to worldwide audiences when she co-starred with Richard Gere in the Cinderella/Pygmalionesque story, Pretty Woman, in 1990. 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) all turned it down. The role also earned her a second Oscar nomination, this time as Best Actress, and second Golden Globe Award win, as Motion Picture Best Actress (Musical or Comedy). Julia Roberts next box office success was the thriller Sleeping with the Enemy, playing a battered wife who escapes her abusive husband, played by Patrick Bergin, and begins a new life in Iowa. Julia Roberts  played Tinkerbell in Steven Spielberg's Hook in 1991, and also played a nurse in the 1991 film, Dying Young. This work was followed by a two-year hiatus, during which she made no films other than a cameo appearance in Robert Altman's The Player (1992). In early 1993, she was the subject of a People magazine cover story asking, "What Happened to Julia Roberts?" Julia Roberts  was offered the role of Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle (1993), but turned it down.

Roberts co-starred with Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief (1993), based on John Grisham's 1992 novel of the same name. In 1995, she appeared in season 2 of Friends (episode 13 "The One After the Superbowl"). Roberts recorded her scenes from January 6–8, 1996.Julia Roberts had a relationship with cast member Matthew Perry at the time, and an audience member said about their on-screen kiss, "Julia looked at Matt and said 'I'm glad we rehearsed this over the weekend'." Julia Roberts  was offered the role of Lucy Eleanor Moderatz in While You Were Sleeping (1995), but also turned it down.

Roberts co-starred with Liam Neeson in Michael Collins (1996). Over the next few years, she starred in a series of films that were critical and commercial failures, such as Stephen Frears' Mary Reilly (1996). Roberts overcame these with the commercial and critical success of My Best Friend's Wedding in 1997. In 1998, she appeared on Sesame Street opposite the character Elmo, demonstrating her ability to change emotions. Julia Roberts was offered the role of Viola de Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love (1998), but turned it down. Julia Roberts  starred with Hugh Grant in Notting Hill (1999). That same year she also starred in Runaway Bride, her second film with Richard Gere. Roberts was a guest star on the Law & Order television series episode "Empire" with series regular Benjamin Bratt (at that time her boyfriend). Also in 1999 she starred in the critically panned film Stepmom (1998) alongside Susan Sarandon.

2001–2005 

Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy García, Julia, cast of Ocean's Eleven along with director Steven Soderbergh in December 2001.In 2001 Roberts received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich, who helped wage a successful lawsuit against energy giant Pacific Gas & Electric. While presenting the Best Actor Award to Denzel Washington the following year she made a gaffe, saying she was glad that Tom Conti wasn't there. Julia Roberts meant the conductor, Bill Conti, who had tried to hasten the conclusion of her Oscar speech the previous year, but instead named the Scottish actor. Roberts team with Erin Brockovich director Steven Soderbergh for three more films: Ocean's Eleven (2001), Full Frontal (2002), and Ocean's Twelve (2004). Later in 2001 she starred in the road gangster comedy, The Mexican, giving her a chance to work with long-time friend, Brad Pitt. In 2005 she was featured in the music video for the hit single "Dreamgirl" by the Dave Matthews Band; it was her first music video appearance.

2006–Present

Roberts had two films released in 2006, The Ant Bully and Charlotte's Web. Both films were animated features for which she provided voice acting. Julia Roberts next film was Charlie Wilson's War (2007), with Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman, directed by Mike Nichols and based on the book by former CBS journalist George Crile; it was released on December 21, 2007. Fireflies in the Garden (2008), also starring Ryan Reynolds and Willem Dafoe, was released at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2008 and was subsequently shown in European cinemas; it did not get a North American release until 2011.

Roberts 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 US$1 million dollars in ticket sales during its first week and was a commercial success throughout its limited run, her performance drew criticism. New York Times' critic Ben Brantly described her as being fraught with "self-consciousness (especially in the first act) [and] only glancingly acquainted with the two characters she plays." Brantley also criticized the production of "Greenberg's slender, elegant play," writing that “it's almost impossible to discern its artistic virtues from this wooden and splintered interpretation, directed by Joe Mantello." Three Days of Rain received two Tony Award nominations in stagecraft categories. In 2009, Lancôme announced that Roberts would become their global ambassador for their company.Julia starred with Clive Owen in the comedy-thriller Duplicity for which she received her seventh Golden Globe nomination. In 2010, she appeared in the ensemble romantic comedy Valentine's Day, with Cooper, and starred in the film adaptation of Eat Pray Love. Eat Pray Love had the highest debut at the box office for Roberts in a top-billed role since America's Sweethearts. Later in the year, she signed a five-year extension with Lancôme for GB£32 million (US$50 million).In 2011, she co-starred as Mercedes Tainot opposite Tom Hanks who directed and played the title role in the romantic comedy Larry Crowne. The movie has received generally bad reviews with only 35% of the 175 Rotten Tomatoes reviews giving it high ratings, although Roberts' comedic performance was praised. Roberts will appear in the 2012 Tarsem Singh adaptation of Snow White, called Mirror Mirror playing the Evil Queen.

American Girl films Roberts has brought to life some of the books from American Girl as films, serving as executive producer alongside her sister Lisa. The company's product lines and services are focused on pre-teen-girl characters from various periods of American history, embodied as dolls and featured in narratives including books and movies. Roberts has produced four movies.

Personal Life

Relationships Roberts has had reported romantic relationships with numerous famous men, including Liam Neeson, Dylan McDermott, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric,Lyle Lovett, Matthew Perry, and Benjamin Bratt. Julia Roberts was briefly engaged to McDermott, her Steel Magnolias co-star, whom she broke up with during the making of Pretty Woman. Julia Roberts subsequent engagement and breakup with Kiefer Sutherland led to Roberts' suffering from "mental issues" according to director Steven Spielberg on the set of the film Hook. Julia Roberts met Sutherland in 1990, when he was her co-star in Flatliners. In August 1990, Roberts and Sutherland announced their engagement, with an elaborate studio-planned wedding scheduled for June 14, 1991. Roberts broke the engagement three days before the wedding. Roberts subsequently went to Ireland with Jason Patric, a friend of Sutherland's. On June 25, 1993, she married country singer Lyle Lovett. The wedding took place at St. James Lutheran Church in Marion, Indiana, near where Lovett was appearing on tour with his band.In March 1995, the couple separated, and subsequently divorced.

In 1998, Roberts began dating Law & Order star Benjamin Bratt, and he was her escort for the March 25, 2001 Academy Awards ceremony at which she won her Oscar. Three months later, in June 2001, Roberts and Bratt announced that they were no longer a couple. "It's come to a kind and tenderhearted end," she said of their relationship.

Roberts met her current husband, cameraman Daniel Moder, 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 Moder. He filed for divorce a little over a year later, and after it was finalized, he and Roberts wed on July 4, 2002, at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico. Together, they have three children, twins Hazel Patricia Moder and Phinnaeus "Finn" Walter Moder (born November 28, 2004) and Henry Daniel Moder (born June 18, 2007).

Beliefs

Roberts disclosed in a 2010 interview for Elle magazine that she believes in and practices Hinduism.Roberts is a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji). A picture of Neem Karoli Baba drew Roberts to Hinduism.

Charities 

Roberts has given her time and resources to UNICEF as well as to other charitable organizations. On May 10, 1995, Roberts arrived in Port-au-Prince, as she said, "to educate myself".The poverty she found was overwhelming. "My heart is just bursting", she said. UNICEF officials hoped that her six-day visit would trigger an outburst of giving: $10 million in aid was sought at the time.

In 2000, Roberts narrated Silent Angels, a documentary about Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder, which was shot in Los Angeles, Baltimore and New York. The documentary was designed to help raise public awareness about the disease. In July 2006, Earth Biofuels announced Roberts as a spokeswoman for the company and as chair of the company's newly formed Advisory Board promoting the use of renewable fuels.

Filmography

1987 Firehouse Babs  

1988 Blood Red Maria Collogero  

1988 Mystic Pizza Daisy Arujo Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female

Nominated—Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama 

1988 Satisfaction Daryle Also known as Girls of Summer 

1989 Steel Magnolias Shelby Eatenton Latcherie Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture

Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress 

1990 Pretty Woman Vivian Ward Blimp Award for Favorite Movie Actress

Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy

Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress

Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 

1990 Flatliners Rachel Mannus Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress 

1991 Hook Tinkerbell Nominated—Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress 

1991 Dying Young Hilary O'Neil Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance

Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Female 

1991 Sleeping with the Enemy Sara Waters/Laura Burney Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress 

1992 Player, TheThe Player  Cameo 

1993 The Pelican Brief Darby Shaw Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance 

1994 Prêt-à-Porter Anne Eisenhower Also known as Ready to Wear

National Board of Review Award for Best Cast 

1994 I Love Trouble Sabrina Peterson  

1995 Something to Talk About Grace King Bichon  

1996 Everyone Says I Love You Von Sidell  

1996 Michael Collins Kitty Kiernan  

1996 Mary Reilly Mary Reilly Nominated—Razzie Award for Worst Actress 

1997 Conspiracy Theory Alice Sutton Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Suspense 

1997 My Best Friend's Wedding Julianne Potter Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Comedy

Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy

Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy

Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance 

1998 Stepmom Isabel Kelly Nominated—Blimp Award for Favorite Movie Actress

Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Drama 

1999 Runaway Bride Maggie Carpenter Nominated—Blimp Award for Favorite Movie Actress (also for Notting Hill)

Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Comedy/Romance

Nominated—Csapnivalo Award for Best Female Performance

Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance 

1999 Notting Hill Anna Scott Nominated—Blimp Award for Favorite Movie Actress (also for Runaway Bride)

Nominated—Blimp Award for Favorite Movie Couple (shared with Hugh Grant)

Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Comedy/Romance

Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy

Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 

2000 Erin Brockovich Erin Brockovich Academy Award for Best Actress

BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Drama

Empire Award for Best Actress

Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama

London Film Critics Circle Film Award for Actress of the Year

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance

National Board of Review Award for Best Actress

San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Teen Choice Award for Film – Choice Actress

Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress

Nominated—Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress

Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Line from a Movie (For "Bite my ass, Krispy Kreme!")

Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Female

Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress

Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama 

2001 Ocean's Eleven Tess Ocean Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast 

2001 America's Sweethearts Kathleen "Kiki" Harrison  

2001 Mexican, TheThe Mexican Samantha Barzel Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Film – Choice Chemistry (Shared with Brad Pitt) 

2002 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Patricia Watson  

2002 Grand Champion Jolene  

2002 Full Frontal Catherine/Francesca  

2003 Mona Lisa Smile Katherine Ann Watson  

2004 Ocean's Twelve Tess Ocean Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast 

2004 Closer Anna Cameron National Board of Review Award for Best Cast

Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast 

2006 Charlotte's Web Charlotte the Spider (voice)  

2006 Beslan: Three Days In September Narrator 

2006 Ant Bully, TheThe Ant Bully Hova (voice) Nominated—Blimp Award for Favorite Voice From an Animated Movie 

2007 Charlie Wilson's War Joanne Herring Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture 

2008 Fireflies in the Garden Lisa Waechter  

2009 Duplicity Claire Stenwick Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy 

2010 Valentine's Day Kate Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress (also for Eat Pray Love) 

2010 Eat Pray Love Elizabeth Gilbert Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress (also for Valentine's Day) 

2011 Larry Crowne Mercedes Tainot Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress 

2012 Mirror, Mirror Queen Clementianna  

2012 August: Osage County Barbara Fordham  

Year Title Role Notes 

Television 1987 Crime Story Tracy Episode "The Survivor" (1.19) 

1988 Miami Vice Polly Wheeler Season 4 episode 22: "Mirror Image" 

1988 Baja Oklahoma Candy Hutchins TV 

1996 Friends Susie Moss Episode "The One After the Superbowl: Part 2" (2.13) 

1999 Law & Order Katrina Ludlow Episode "Empire"

Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress – Drama Series 

2003 Freedom: A History Of Us Virginia Eyewitness 2 episodes: "What Is Freedom?" (1.07); "Yearning to Breathe Free" (1.10) 

2010 Hope For Haiti Now Herself Telethon for Haiti earthquake relief