Cover Julia Roberts’s legendary career spans over three decades, from breakout roles to Oscar-winning performances that have shaped modern cinema (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
Julia Roberts’s legendary career spans over three decades, from breakout roles to Oscar-winning performances that have shaped modern cinema (Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
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From ‘Pretty Woman’ to ‘Erin Brockovich’, these films trace Julia Roberts’s remarkable transformation from charismatic newcomer to one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons
Julia Roberts’s rise from small-town Georgia to Hollywood is a masterclass in charisma, talent, and staying power. Born in Smyrna, Georgia, she moved to New York City in the ’80s, launching a career that would redefine romantic comedy and shatter pay ceilings for women in film. With an Academy Award, more than US$3.9 billion in worldwide box office earnings and the distinction of being the first actress to earn US$20 million for a single role, Roberts made history and reshaped the industry’s idea of female stardom.
As she celebrates her birthday on October 28, revisit the iconic performances that built her legacy and secured her place among Hollywood’s most iconic leading women.
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‘Mystic Pizza’ (1988)
Above Julia Roberts shines as fiery waitress Daisy Araújo in ‘Mystic Pizza’
In her first major leading role, Julia Roberts plays Daisy Araújo, a fiery waitress dreaming of escaping her working-class roots through a romance that crosses class divides. Roger Ebert famously predicted that Mystic Pizza would become known for showcasing future movie stars. This breakout performance earned Roberts an Independent Spirit Award nomination and established her infectious charm, sharp wit and relatable vulnerability—the foundation of her on-screen persona that would power her meteoric rise.
‘Steel Magnolias’ (1989)
Above Julia Roberts delivers a heart-wrenching performance as Shelby in ‘Steel Magnolias’
Julia Roberts portrays Shelby Eatenton Latcherie, a vibrant Southern woman whose battle with Type 1 diabetes complicates her dreams of motherhood, leading to a deeply moving conclusion. Acting alongside Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Dolly Parton, Roberts earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and won her first Golden Globe for her role in Steel Magnolias. This critical breakthrough proved she possessed formidable depth, balancing Shelby’s joyful defiance with vulnerability.
‘Pretty Woman’ (1990)
Above Julia Roberts and Richard Gere create cinema’s most beloved romance in ‘Pretty Woman’
Julia Roberts stars as Vivian Ward, the film’s titular Pretty Woman, a charismatic Hollywood sex worker whose life transforms when wealthy businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) hires her for a week. This cultural phenomenon grossed US$463.4 million worldwide, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the ’90s. Roberts’s performance earned her a second Oscar nomination and Golden Globe Award, cementing her status as “America’s sweetheart”. From the Rodeo Drive shopping spree to the red opera gown, the film created indelible pop culture moments.
‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ (1997)
Above The actress delivers another rom-com hit with ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’
In My Best Friends’ Wedding, Julia Roberts portrays Julianne Potter, a commitment-phobic food critic who realises she’s in love with her best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) just days before his wedding, launching a desperate mission to sabotage it. This massive commercial hit grossed US$299.3 million worldwide, marking Roberts’s glorious return to rom-coms, subverting genre conventions by making her character manipulative and selfish—yet utterly captivating thanks to Roberts’s immense charm. The film proved her unique ability to make deeply flawed protagonists sympathetic and compelling.
‘Notting Hill’ (1999)
Above As Anna Scott in ‘Notting Hill’, Roberts cements her title as rom-com queen
Roberts portrays one of the world’s most famous film stars whose glamorous life collides with ordinary when she meets unassuming bookshop owner William Thacker (Hugh Grant) in London’s Notting Hill. Widely regarded as one of the greatest romantic comedies ever made, this global sensation grossed over US$363 million, reaffirming Roberts’s title as the undisputed queen of the genre. The film cleverly uses Roberts’s own megastar status to explore the pressures of fame, creating a meta-narrative that adds poignant depth.
‘Erin Brockovich’ (2000)
Above Julia Roberts won the Academy Award for her powerful portrayal in ’Erin Brockovich’
Julia Roberts delivered a career-defining performance as real-life Erin Brockovich, a tenacious, unemployed single mother who uncovers a massive corporate cover-up of contaminated water in California and spearheads one of America’s largest direct-action lawsuits. This tour de force transitioned Roberts from beloved movie star to Oscar-winning actress, sweeping major awards season with the Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Award. For this role, Roberts became the first actress commanding US$20 million, resetting Hollywood’s gender pay equality bar.
‘Ocean’s Eleven’ (2001)
Above In ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, Roberts stands out among the film’s star-studded ensemble
As Tess Ocean, Roberts plays the intelligent ex-wife of master thief Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and current girlfriend of ruthless casino owner Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). Ocean’s Eleven’ packed with Hollywood’s biggest male stars, Roberts is the undeniable gravitational centre—a sharp, self-possessed woman more than a match for the men surrounding her. The film grossed over US$450 million worldwide, reuniting Roberts with director Steven Soderbergh immediately following their Oscar-winning Erin Brockovich collaboration.
‘After the Hunt’ (2025)
Above Roberts tackles contemporary themes as Professor Alma in ‘After the Hunt’
In this gripping psychological drama, Julia Roberts plays Alma, an esteemed college professor whose world unravels when a star student (Ayo Edebiri) accuses her colleague (Andrew Garfield), forcing dark secrets from Alma’s past to surface. Directed by acclaimed Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name), After the Hunt marks a significant dramatic turn with Roberts portraying a character with steeliness and an icy exterior. The film tackles complex themes of campus politics and the #MeToo movement, with viewers praising Roberts’s provocative, standout performance.
After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
