Despite the fact "Eat Pray Love" hasn't gotten the most love from critics, the overwhelming consensus is that Julia Roberts carries her weight in the film. And that seems to be what keeps audiences coming back for more.
Over the past 22 years, be it in "Pretty Woman," the "Oceans" trilogy, "Charlotte's Web" or "Erin Brockovich," Julia and has always been one of America's leading sweethearts (maybe that's why they gave her a lead in that movie?).
Born on October 28, 1967 in Atlanta, Ga. To Betty Lou and Walter Grady Roberts, Julia seemed destined to be an actor. Both of her parents were one-time actors and playwrights, and ran a school for acting for children during the time Betty Lou was pregnant with Julia. They taught the children of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, and Coretta actually paid off the hospital bill after Julia's birth as a thank you to the Roberts.
Julia originally wanted to be a veterinarian when she was a child, but followed her older siblings Eric (pictured left) and Lisa to New York after she graduated high school. Her film debut was in a supporting role opposite Eric in the 1987 flick "Blood Red," but she did not make a splash onto the film scene until she filmed "Mystic Pizza" in 1988 at age 21. In 1989, she starred in "Steel Magnolias" and earned her first Oscar nomination.
We all know the film that made Julia a star, though, and the film she is arguably most famous for. Julia took the lead role in 1990's "Pretty Woman" after Molly Ringwald, Meg Ryan and Daryl Hannah turned it down, and starring opposite Richard Gere managed to earn her a second Oscar nomination and make her a certified Hollywood movie star.
After that, Julia continued to star in her share of hits, like 1991's "Hook" and "Sleeping with the Enemy." She took a two year hiatus, and came back in 1993 with "The Pelican Brief." The next few years were filmed with a series of flips, but she had a comeback in 1997 with "My Best Friend's Wedding." In 1999, she had "Notting Hill," "Runaway Bride" and "Stepmom," and was back on top.
It was in 2001 that Julia had the best role of her career and won an Oscar for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich in the film of the same name. That year, she also starred opposite Brad Pitt in "The Mexican" and John Cusak in "America's Sweethearts."
On the set of "The Mexican," Julia met cameraman Daniel Moder, with whom she got married to on July 4, 2002. They have since had three children. Before that, Julia had been linked to a number of Hollywood actors, including relationships with Keifer Sutherland and Daniel Day-Lewis.
Still in 2001, she reteamed with "Erin Brockovitch" director Steven Soderbergh and Brad Pitt for "Oceans Eleven." After Brad and George Clooney found out she would be starring with them in the film, they reportedly sent her a card that said "We heard you get 20 per film" — referencing the fact she made $20 million per movie — and had tucked a $20 bill inside. She, Steven and Brad would work together again in 2004's "Oceans's Twelve," and Julia and Steven teamed up for 2002's "Full Frontal."
Julia has gone on to star in a series of hits since then, like 2003's "Mona Lisa Smile" for which she was paid an unheard of $25 million salary, the 2004 thriller "Closer," and voice work for 2006's "Charlotte's Web" and "The Ant Bully." In 2007, she starred opposite Tom Hanks in "Charlie Wilson's War," and then in 2009 starred opposite Clive Owen in the spy romance "Duplicity." Earlier this year, she won our hearts as a soldier coming home from Iraq to see her son in "Valentine's Day."
Over the years, the press has reaffirmed their love for Julia Roberts. She was the first actress to ever appear on the cover of Vogue, has been named one of People's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" 11 times (tied only with Halle Berry), and frequently tops of the list of Hollywood Reporter's top-earning female stars. Despite "Eat Pray Love" not doing well critically, we are sure Julia's star will continue to shine bright, and we wish her nothing but the best.
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Do you love Julia Roberts as much as we do? Is it okay that she sometimes has a series of flops?
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