Julia Roberts Biography

Date of Birth
28 October 1967, Smyrna, Georgia, USA

Birth Name
Julia Fiona Roberts

Nickname
Jules

Height
5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Biography

Julia Fiona Roberts, born in Smyrna, Georgia, never dreamed she would become the most popular actress in America. As a child, due to her love of animals, Julia originally wanted to be a veterinarian, but later studied journalism. When her brother, Eric Roberts, achieved some success in Hollywood, Julia decided to try acting. Her first break came in 1988 when she appeared in two youth-oriented movies Mystic Pizza (1988) and Satisfaction (1988). The movies introduced her to a new audience who instantly fell in love with this pretty woman. Julia's biggest success was in the signature movie Pretty Woman (1990), for which Julia got an Oscar nomination, and also won the People's Choice award for Favorite Actress. Even though Julia would spend the next few years either starring in serious movies, or playing fantasy roles like Tinkerbell, the movie audiences would always love Julia best in romantic comedies. With My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) Julia gave the genre fresh life that had been lacking in Hollywood for some time. Offscreen, after a brief marriage, Julia has been romantically linked with several other actors. Julia has also become involved with UNICEF charities and has made visits to many different countries, including Haiti and India, in order to promote goodwill. Julia is one of the most popular and sought-after talents in Hollywood.
IMDb Mini Biography By: kdhaisch@aol.com

Spouse
Daniel Moder (4 July 2002 - present) 3 children
Lyle Lovett (25 June 1993 - 22 March 1995) (divorced)

Trivia

Lent her celebrity name to help raise money for research to develop a cure for Rett Syndrome (a disease which is potentially fatal and randomly strikes girls between the ages of 2 to 6 years).

Chosen of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" by People magazine in 2000.

Has a half-sister, Nancy Motes (b. 1976).

Dated Benjamin Bratt from 1998 to June 2001.

Turned down the female lead in Shakespeare in Love (1998).

Ranked #66 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list (October 1997).

Was engaged to Kiefer Sutherland for a short period.

Dated Matthew Perry.

Sister of Lisa Roberts Gillan and Eric Roberts.

Played clarinet in the band. She attended Griffin Middle School and then Campbell High School.

Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1990 and 1991.

Has "movie within a movie" scenes in The Player (1992), Notting Hill (1999), America's Sweethearts (2001) and Full Frontal (2002).

Was considered for the role of Poison Ivy in Batman & Robin (1997).

She once tried out for a part on "All My Children" (1970), but was turned down.

Lived with Liam Neeson.

Dated Daniel Day-Lewis.

Born to Walter Grady Roberts, a vacuum cleaner salesman, and his wife Betty Lou Bredemus, a one-time church secretary and real estate agent.

Ranked #1 (in Hollywood Power) and #12 (in $$) on Forbes magazine 'Power 100'.

Tops the list of the 200 "hottest" actors and actresses in the business in "James Ulmer's Hollywood Hot List: The Complete Guide to Star Power - 2000" book which is published in October 2000 (June 2000).

Turned down the Sharon Stone role in Basic Instinct (1992).

Was engaged to her Steel Magnolias (1989) co-star, Dylan McDermott.

Beat out Sandra Bullock for the role of Maggie Carpenter in Runaway Bride (1999).

Lies on her back to have her make-up applied before going onto a film set -- she insists it gives her a relaxed look.

Frequently works with Steven Soderbergh

Sister-in-law of Tony Gillan

Sister-in-law of Eliza Roberts

Aunt of Emma Roberts

After George Clooney and Brad Pitt found out that she was going to be joining them in Ocean's Eleven (2001), they sent her a card that read "We heard that you get 20 per film" and in it was a $20 bill; the joke was that she reportedly gets $20 million per film.

Named one of People Magazine's '25 Most Intriguing People of 2001'.

Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001".

At the 2002 Peoples Choice Awards she admitted to being a huge fan of "Days of Our Lives" (1965) and asked to be seated near the cast.

Splits her down time between her ranch in Taos, New Mexico and a home in New York City

Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2002.

Was ranked 6th of the 100 Sexiest Women by FHM Taiwan (2001).

Married boyfriend, cameraman Daniel Moder, at their ranch home in Taos, New Mexico in a midnight ceremony. Bruce Willis was the only celebrity that attended her wedding to Daniel Moder. Julia wore a simple pink cotton halter dress by pal Judith Beylerian (4 July 2002).

She never acted in a sequel until Ocean's Twelve (2004).

She has Irish ancestry.

Moved from rank # 18 in 2002 to rank #16 in 2003 on Premiere's Annual Hollywood Power List. Also in 2003 Julia ranked #10 in Star TV's Top 10 Box Office Stars of the 1990s. In 2005, Premiere Magazine Stars in Our Constellation feature ranked Julia as the #7 Greatest Movie Star of All Time. in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).

Ranked #10 in Star TV's Top 10 Box Office Stars of the 1990s (2003)

Measurements: 34B-23-34 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)

She is a huge fan of actress Aishwarya Rai, whom she once commented on being "The most beautiful woman in the world, more beautiful than any Hollywood actress."

Pakistani film director Rauf Khalid wanted her to work in his film, and even invited her to Pakistan to discuss the project, but she refused because of prior commitments.

Observed art history classes at New York University in order to prepare for her role in Mona Lisa Smile (2003).

Her Oscar-winning performance as Erin Brockovich-Ellis was ranked #31 on the American Film Institute's Heroes list of the 100 years of The Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains.

Announced that she and husband Daniel Moder are expecting twins. Twins run in her family. She is due in early 2005. [June 2004].

Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk wrote the song "Julia" about her after seeing her at a Los Angeles restaurant.

Shares a birthday with actor Joaquin Phoenix.

A 9000 year old female skeleton excavated in Bulgaria in November 2004, was called by the archaeologists "Julia Roberts" because of the perfect teeth it had. They said that woman would have had a perfect smile - just like the actress.

Has worked with both Hector Elizondo and Richard Gere in two different movies, first in Pretty Woman (1990), and then again in Runaway Bride (1999).

Because Erin Brockovich-Ellis is right handed and Roberts is not, she had to learn to use her right hand for Erin Brockovich (2000).

Premiere Magazine ranked her as the #7 Greatest Movie Star of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).

Has played an art historian twice, once in Everyone Says I Love You (1996) and also in Mona Lisa Smile (2003).

First actress to reach 20 million dollar mark salary (for Erin Brockovich (2000))

She and her Ocean's Eleven (2001) / Ocean's Twelve (2004) co-stars, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Elliott Gould, all have guest-starred on the TV show "Friends" (1994), though not in the same episodes

Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2005 and appeared on the cover of the May 9, 2005 issue.

"The Alchemist" is one of her favorite books.

Roberts' production company "Red Om" films is her husband Danny's second name reversed

As a gesture of thanks for giving her children music lessons, Coretta Scott King paid the hospital bills when the pregnant Mrs. Roberts' delivered her next child. That child ended up being Julia.

Early in her career, she auditioned unsuccessfully for two soap opera roles. She lost the part of "Linda Warner" to Melissa Leo on "All My Children" (1970); and the part of "Hayley Benson" to Stacy Edwards on "Santa Barbara" (1984).

Was named of the 100 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2006.

Her great-grandmother Elin (Eleanor) was Swedish, born 1884 in Värmland, Sweden. She died in Minneapolis 1960, seven years before Julia was born.

Chosen "Sexiest Bespectacled Star" by the readers of "In Touch" magazine ahead of Felicity Huffman and Alicia Keys (November 2006).

Her Broadway debut in the play "Three Days of Rain" received terrible reviews for her performance and ran only 70 performances.

Longtime good friends with actor Denzel Washington and actress Susan Sarandon.

Daughter-in-law of Mike Moder.

Cited as America's Favorite Movie Star in a Harris Poll conducted in 2001.

Ranked #8 in Forbes the 20 Richest Women In Entertainment.

Drives a Toyota Prius (April 2004).

She won an Oscar for playing Erin Brockovich-Ellis in Erin Brockovich (2000), making her one of eleven actors to win the Award for playing a real person who was still alive at the evening of the Award ceremony (as of 2007). The other ten actors and their respective performances are: Spencer Tracy for playing Father Edward Flanagan in Boys Town (1938), Gary Cooper for playing Alvin C. York in Sergeant York (1941), Patty Duke for playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962), Jason Robards for playing Benjamin C. Bradlee in All the President's Men (1976), Robert De Niro for playing Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980), Sissy Spacek for playing Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter (1980), Susan Sarandon for playing Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking (1995), Geoffrey Rush for playing David Helfgott in Shine (1996), Jim Broadbent for playing John Bayley in Iris (2001/I) and, most recently, Helen Mirren for playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006).

An accomplished equestrienne, Julia did her own riding in Runaway Bride (1999).

Turned down leading role in Sleepless in Seattle (1993) which went to Meg Ryan.

Gave birth to a son, Henry Daniel Moder, on 18 June 2007 in Los Angeles. Henry weighed in at 8 1/2 lbs.

Daughter, Hazel Moder, and son, Phinnaeus Moder were born on 28 November 2004.

Received the American Cinematheque Award (10 October 2007).

Is an alumni of the Lee Strasberg Institute such as actors Frank Miranda, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson, Rosario Dawson, Dennis Hopper.

Five directors that cast Julia at least twice are: Mike Nichols, Steven Soderbergh, Garry Marshall, Robert Altman and Joel Schumacher.

Good friends with Bruce Willis.

After divorcing Walter Roberts in January 1972, her mother Betty Lou married theater critic Michael Motes (11 September 1972).

Her films have grossed more than $ 2 billion at the US box office, making her the biggest female movie star of all time (February 2007).

Has supported UNICEF enthusiastically.

Buys her own organic greens at the market near her apartment in New York.

In 2006, she earned $5 million for endorsing Gianfranco Ferre. She posed for eight print ads, which was equivalent for one day of work.

Named #57 on Empire Magazine's 100 Sexiest Movie Stars. (2007).

By 2004, she had a fortune estimated to be worth $212 million.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $9 million.

Made just one movie - Blood Red (1989) - with brother Eric Roberts.

Ranked #1 on Forbes magazine 'Celebrity 100' (2000).

Is one of six actresses that have won an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The others in chronological order are Renée Zellweger for Cold Mountain (2003), Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line (2005), Helen Mirren for The Queen (2006), Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006) and Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008).

Big fan of actress Katharine Hepburn.

One of her favorite hobbies is knitting.

Born at 12:16 AM (EST).

Personal Quotes

I enjoy hats. And when one has filthy hair, that is a good accessory.

I'm too tall to be a girl, I never had enough dresses to be a lady, I wouldn't call myself a woman. I'd say I'm somewhere between a chick and a broad.

My real hair color is kind of a dark blonde. Now I just have mood hair.

(From 1998 interview) "I've sort of grown into my cuteness."

"We all need to take a deep breath and think about being a Bush daughter and having that cross to bear. I'd go out and have a couple of drinks, too" - about President George W. Bush's daughters being caught with alcohol as minors.

"It doesn't bring out the Einstein moment that you hoped it would."-- Julia Roberts, on forgetting to include the real-life Erin Brockovich-Ellis in her Academy Award acceptance speech.

You know I'm like a total geek, right? First of all, I sit on the set and knit. It's a very social hobby, as opposed to reading at work - I can chat with people and still be fully engaged.

"He's embarrassing, he's not my president. He will never be my president" - talking about President George W. Bush.

I'm just an ordinary person who has an extraordinary job.

"I get dressed up like a doll, a nice man puts lipstick on my lips and I say words - it's deeply satisfying" - on the essence of her job

On why she will never do a nude scene: "I just don't feel that my algebra teacher should ever know what my butt looks like."

You can be true to the character all you want, but you've go to go home with yourself.

"The first time I felt I was famous was when I went to the movies with my mom. I had gone to the loo, and someone in the bathroom said in a very loud voice, 'Girl in stall No. 1, were you in Mystic Pizza (1988)? I paused and I said, yeah that was me." - (People Magazine 8/22/99)

I think it's dangerous to talk in the big generalities of sexism and ageism and face lift-isms. You really have to speak only from your own experience. And my experience so far has been ridiculously nice. Yeah, do the boys get paid more? Yes. But do we all get paid too much? Yes. I'm confused at what I'm supposed to complain about.

I wouldn't do nudity in films. To act with my clothes on is a performance. To act with my clothes off is a documentary.

It's heaven truly... we were rehearsing one day, and we had just moved into the theater and it was dark out here, and I was on stage, and all of the sudden, I hear, 'Mama!' And Hazel had come in and in the dark just to hear this little voice, and it's incredibly amazing.

I think one of the smartest things I ever did for my career was not working for two years in the early 90s. I was being offered a lot of different movies but I just didn't see the point of any of them. People would say to me "How can you just be passing on all those things?" And my response was "Tell me a movie you've seen in the past year that I should have made."

I'm just a girl from a little town in Georgia who had this giant, absurd dream. [On her success.] (People Magazine)

[on Clive Owen] George Clooney is obsessed with Clive. Every good-guy actor talks about Clive as one of their favourites. Because he's English, because his successes have stood on the shoulders of his talents alone, and because he hasn't been carried away by popular culture.

I'm tall and smart. If you're aggressive and energetic it can be intimidating for people who aren't very smart themselves.

Salary
Duplicity (2009) $15,000,000
Mona Lisa Smile (2003) $20,000,000
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) $250,000 (scale)
Ocean's Eleven (2001) $10,000,000
America's Sweethearts (2001) $15,000,000
The Mexican (2001) $20,000,000
Erin Brockovich (2000) $20,000,000
Runaway Bride (1999) $17,000,000
Notting Hill (1999) $15,000,000
Conspiracy Theory (1997) $12,000,000
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) $12,000,000
Mary Reilly (1996) $10,000,000
The Pelican Brief (1993) $8,000,000
Hook (1991) $7,000,000
Dying Young (1991) $3,000,000
Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) $1,000,000
Flatliners (1990) $500,000
Pretty Woman (1990) $300,000
Steel Magnolias (1989) $90,000
Mystic Pizza (1988) $50,000

Where Are They Now

(May 2002) Capital Hill, Washington, D.C., USA testifying for more federal funding for Rett Syndrome

(December 2004) She and her family are relaxing at their ranch in New Mexico after the birth of her new twins, Phinneaus and Hazel.

(April 2006) Making her Broadway debut in the revival of Richard Greenberg's play "Three Days of Rain". Her co-stars are Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper.