For the American country music singer, see Julie Roberts. Julia Roberts Julia Roberts in May 2002. Born: October 28, 1967 Smyrna, Georgia, USA Occupation: American Actress Julie Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. Roberts shot to fame during the early 1990s after starring in the romantic comedy Pretty Woman opposite Richard Gere. Since then, Roberts has gone on to become the highest-paid actress in the world, topping the recent Hollywood Reporter's annual power list of top-earning female stars for the second year in a row. This proved that even though she had taken a year off for personal reasons and had not been seen on screen since 2004's Ocean's Twelve, Roberts still had the appeal to remain the reigning Queen of Hollywood. Her impressive film career has also given her the title of most bankable actress in Hollywood, with box office receipts well over $2 billion on the strength of numerous blockbusters such as Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, and Ocean's Eleven. She won the Best Actress Academy Award in 2001 for her critically praised turn as the title character in Erin Brockovich after two previous nominations during the 1990s. For her fame and wholesome image, she is often referred to as "America's Sweetheart". She was also placed at the pinnacle of the Ulmer Scale, a comprehensive guide to the global star power of actors and directors in independent and studio films created by James Ulmer, ahead of such other luminaries as Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. This was partly due to her ability to open a film based solely on her name above the title without the support of a male co-star, something few other actresses are able to do. Roberts is the first of two actresses (the other is Cameron Diaz) to join the coveted "$20 Million Club", when she signed to do Erin Brockovich for that amount. An unprecedented $25 million was paid to Roberts for her role in 2003's Mona Lisa Smile. As of 2005, Roberts' net worth was over $250,000,000 (USD). Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Career 1.3 Personal life 2 Filmography 3 Awards 3.1 Awards won 3.2 Awards nominated 4 External links Biography Early life Julia Roberts was born in Smyrna, Georgia as Julie Fiona Roberts. Her father, Walter Grady Roberts, was a water bed salesman, actor and writer of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh extraction on behalf of his father, Walter Thomas Roberts, and English-Scottish descent on the part of his mother, Beatrice Beal. Julia's mother, Betty Lou Bredemus, a church secretary and actress, was born in Minneapolis in 1934, daughter of football player Wendell John Bredemus (whose mother Eleanor Johnson was born in Sweden) and Elizabeth Ellen Billingsley. While Mrs. Roberts was pregnant with Julia, she and her husband taught acting to the children of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. As a thank-you for their service, Mrs. King paid the hospital bill when Mrs. Roberts gave birth to Julia. Roberts' parents divorced when she was four, and her mother remarried. Her father died of cancer when Roberts was nine. Her elder brother Eric Roberts, from whom she is estranged, is also an actor. So is her niece, Emma Roberts, whom she would often take along on sets when she was younger. Roberts wanted to be a vet as a child, but soon after graduating from Smyrna's Campbell High School [1], she headed to New York to join her sister and pursue a career in acting. Once there she signed with Clicks modeling agency [2] and enrolled in acting classes. Career Julia Roberts made her film debut playing a supporting role opposite her brother, Eric, in Blood Red (she gets just two words dialog), which although completed in 1986 was not released until 1989. Roberts first caught the attention of moviegoers with her performance in the independent film Mystic Pizza in 1988. The following year she was featured in Steel Magnolias as a young bride battling diabetes, garnering her first Oscar nomination (as Best Supporting Actress) for her performance. She catapulted to worldwide fame when she co-starred with Richard Gere in the Cinderella story Pretty Woman in 1990. The role also earned her a second Oscar nod, this time as Best Actress. Her next box office success was the thriller Sleeping with the Enemy, playing a battered wife who escapes her demented husband and starts a new life in Iowa. She played Tinkerbell in Steven Spielberg's Hook in 1991, which was followed by a two-year period of no acting roles 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?" Later that year, she co-starred with Denzel Washington in the successful The Pelican Brief, based on the John Grisham novel. For the next few years, she starred in a series of films that were critical and commercial failures, primarily because she was cast in roles that strayed too far from her film persona. She broke her losing streak with the hugely popular comedy My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), and eventually regained her earlier reputation as an actress who could open a movie and guarantee box office success. She also starred with Hugh Grant in the hugely popular 1999 film Notting Hill. In 2001, she won critical acclaim and finally received a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich, who helped wage a successful lawsuit against energy giant Pacific Gas & Electric. Her acceptance speech was one of the longest in Oscar history and became fodder for late-night comedians. At the same time, Roberts's win created a mild uproar in the film community for beating out Ellen Burnstyn for her wrenching portrayal of Sara Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream. Roberts's win over Burnstyn is frequently cited as an example of the Academy's tendency to award popularity over artistic merit. Subsequently, Roberts would team up with Erin Brockovich director Steven Soderbergh for three more films: Ocean's Eleven, Full Frontal, and Ocean's Twelve. Roberts recently enjoyed her broadway debut as Nan in Three Days of Rain opposite Bradley Cooper, and television star, Paul Rudd, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater. Although the play grossed nearly one million dollars in ticket sales its first week out, and continued to be a commercial success throughout its limited run, most critics have heavily criticized Roberts' performance and the play itself. Even New York Times' critic Ben Brantly, a self proclaimed 'Juliaholic', described her as being fraught with "self-consciousness (especially in the first act) [and] only glancingly acquainted with the two characters she plays." Three Days of Rain received two Tony Award nominations in stage design categories, but took home neither prize. Julia Roberts did, however, receive a Broadway.com audience award (a very minor theatrical prize) for her peformance. As of January 2006, Roberts' films have grossed 2.09 billion at the American Box Office making her the biggest female movie star in history. Personal life Julia Roberts with Private 1st Class Sowell at Incirlik hospital, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, December 7, 2001 Roberts' personal life has often been in the spotlight, a fact reflected in her Notting Hill, a romantic comedy about a famous actress falling for a bookstore owner played by Hugh Grant. Her character, Anna Scott, was said to be closely modeled on Roberts herself. (When asked in one scene how much she was paid to appear in a movie, Scott replies "fifteen million dollars" — precisely the amount Roberts had received to appear in the film.) Roberts was engaged to actor Kiefer Sutherland, whom she met on the set of Flatliners in 1991, but ended the relationship just days before the wedding. Julia went to Europe with Jason Patric after she and Sutherland broke up. She later eloped with country and western singer Lyle Lovett shortly after meeting him. The ceremony was noted by her being barefoot. They divorced in 1995, ostensibly due to their respective career demands keeping them apart, but they still remain friends. Julia also briefly dated Friends star Matthew Perry and actor Daniel Day-Lewis. For a time she lived with actor Liam Neeson and dated Benjamin Bratt from 1998 to 2001. Roberts met her husband, cameraman Danny Moder, on the set of her movie The Mexican in 2000. He was already married to Vera Steimberg Moder, but they eventually divorced. Julia and Danny were married on July 4, 2002, in Taos, New Mexico. On November 28, 2004, they became the parents of twins, daughter Hazel Patricia and son Phinnaeus Walter. Roberts bought a penthouse in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood. She reportedly loves to shop anonymously, buying her own organic greens on weekends at the market in nearby Union Square. She splits her time between her homes in New York City, Malibu, California, and a 50-acre (20 hectare) retreat in Taos. She is reportedly a fan of the long-running soap opera Days of our Lives. Roberts has a production company called "Red Om Films" ("Moder" spelled backwards; formerly "Shoelace Productions") and has given of her time and resources to UNICEF as well as to other charitable organizations. She has made trips to Haiti, India, and other countries promoting peace, goodwill, and help for others in need. She has been named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" a record-setting nine times. She once appeared on Sesame Street opposite the character Elmo, actively showing her ability to change emotions. It also helped her publicise her famous large smile. Filmography Year Film Role Notes 2006 Charlie Wilson's War Joanne Herring Pre-production Charlotte's Web Charlotte The Ant Bully Hova Filming 2004 Ocean's Twelve Tess Ocean/Herself Closer Anna 2003 Mona Lisa Smile Katherine Ann Watson 2002 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Patricia Watson Full Frontal Catherine/Francesca 2001 Ocean's Eleven Tess Ocean America's Sweethearts Kathleen "Kiki" Harrison The Mexican Samantha Barzel 2000 Erin Brockovich Erin Brockovich Won Oscar for Best Actress 1999 Runaway Bride Maggie Carpenter Notting Hill Anna Scott 1998 Stepmom Isabel Kelly 1997 Conspiracy Theory Alice Sutton My Best Friend's Wedding Julianne Porter 1996 Everyone Says I Love You Von Sidell Michael Collins Kitty Kiernan Mary Reilly Mary Reilly 1995 Something to Talk About Grace King Bichon 1994 Prêt-à-Porter aka Ready to Wear Anne Eisenhower I Love Trouble Sabrina Peterson 1993 The Pelican Brief Darby Shaw 1992 The Player Cameo 1991 Hook Tinkerbell Dying Young Hilary O'Neil Sleeping with the Enemy Sara Waters/Laura Burney 1990 Flatliners Rachel Mannus Pretty Woman Vivian Ward 1989 Steel Magnolias Shelby Eatenton Latcherie 1988 Blood Red Maria Collogero Mystic Pizza Daisy Arujo Baja Oklahoma Candy Hutchins TV Satisfaction aka Girls of Summer Daryle 1987 Firehouse Babs Awards Awards won 1990: Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Steel Magnolias 1991: Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical Pretty Woman 1991: ShoWest Female Star of the Year 1991: People's Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture Actress 1992: People's Choice Award for Favourite Comedy Motion Picture Actress and Favourite Dramatic Motion Picture Actress 1994: National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble Pret-a-Porter 1994: People's Choice Award for Favourite Dramatic Motion Picture Actress 1997: Hasty Pudding Theatricals for Woman of the Year 1998: Blockbluster Entertainment Award for Favourite Actress - Comedy My Best Friend's Wedding and Favourite Actress - Suspense Conspiracy Theory 1998: ShoWest Award for International Star of the Year 1998: People's Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture Actress 1999: Blockbluster Entertainment Award for Favourite Actress- Drama Stepmom 2000: People's Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture Actress 2001: People's Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture Actress 2001: American Museum of the Moving Image Honoree Award 2001: Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, National Board of Review, Critic's Choice Award, Blockbuster Entertainment Award, London's Critic's Circle Film Award, Los Angeles Film Critic's Association Award, MTV Movie Award, San Diego Film Critic's Society Award,Teen Choice Award and Screen Actors Guild for Best Actress in Erin Brockovich 2002: People's Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture Actress 2003: People's Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture Actress 2004: National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble Closer 2004: People's Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture Actress 2005: People's Choice Award for Favourite Female Movie Star Awards nominated 1989: Academy Award and Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress in Steel Magnolias 1989: Young Artist Awards for Best Young Actress in a MOtion Picture- Drama Mystic Pizza 1990: Academy Awards and BAFTA for Best Actress in Pretty Woman 1991: Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy &Horror Films Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress Flatliners 1992: Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Saturn Award for Best Actress Sleeping with the Enemy 1992: MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance and Most Desirable Female Dying Young 1994: MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performane The Pelican Brief 1997: Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical My Best Friend's Wedding 1998: MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performane and Golden Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical My Best Friend's Wedding 1999: Golden Globe for 'Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical Notting Hill 1999: Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Law & Order 1999: Kid's Choice Awards Blimp Award for Favourite Movie Actress Stepmom 2000: Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favourite Actress- Comedy/Romance Notting Hill and Runaway Bride,Csapnivalo Awards Golden Slate Best Female Performance and MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance Runaway Bride 2000: Kid's Choice Awards Blimp Award for Favourite Movie Actress Notting Hill and Runaway Bride and Blimp Award for Favourite Movie Couple Notting Hill 2000: Golden Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Moition Picture-Comedy or Musical Notting Hill 2001: Chicago Film Critic's Association, Las Vegas Film Critics Society Sierra Award,Online Film Critics Society, Golden Satellite Award-Drama and Empire Awards (UK) for Best Actress Erin Brockovich and MTV Movie Award for Best Line from a Movie Erin Brockovich 2001: Teen's Choice Award for Film-Choice Chemistry The Mexican 2002: PhoenixFilm Critics Society Award for Best Acting Ensemble Ocean's Eleven 2005: Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Ensemble Closer and Ocean's Twelve Preceded by: Hillary Swank for Boys Don't Cry Academy Award for Best Actress 2001 for Erin Brockovich Succeeded by: Halle Berry for Monster's Ball External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Julia Roberts Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Julia Roberts Julia Roberts at the Internet Movie Database Julia Roberts - A timeline of her life Search Term: "Julia_Roberts" Categories: 1967 births | American film actors | Barefooters | Best Actress Oscar Nominee | Best Actress Oscar | Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nominee | Law & Order actors | Miami Vice actors | Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute alumni | Living people | People from Georgia (U.S. state) | Worst Actress Razzie nominees | Worst Supporting Actress Razzie nominees