Julia Roberts, with her infectious smile, gloriously curly hair, and eternally optimistic aura, has consistently been a captivating presence on screen. Whether portraying a scheming food critic, a vocal activist, or a free-spirited political insider from the 70s, her unique charm makes her instantly recognizable. While she’s often considered the rom-com queen of the 90s, churning out a string of delightful and beloved classics, Roberts has also proven herself a formidable character actress in recent years, seamlessly navigating tense thrillers and heartwarming family dramas. As she celebrates her 57th birthday, we take a look back at some of her most remarkable performances over the past three decades.
Pretty Woman (1990)
It’s impossible to imagine anyone else portraying the vivacious, fiery redhead Vivian Ward, who captivates Richard Gere’s uptight corporate raider in Garry Marshall’s sizzling romance. This film catapulted Roberts into superstardom, solidifying her place as a Hollywood heavyweight and a true style icon. The role even earned her an Oscar nomination, cementing her status as a force to be reckoned with.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
There are countless reasons to revisit PJ Hogan’s delightful romp: the heartwarming moment when the wedding party breaks into a rendition of “I Say a Little Prayer”, Rupert Everett’s scene-stealing supporting performance, Cameron Diaz’s captivating transformation from perky to fierce, and of course, Roberts’s masterful embodiment of a cynical journalist pursuing her best friend (Dermot Mulroney), despite his engagement to another woman.
Notting Hill (1999)
In Roger Michell’s modern fairy tale about a bookstore owner who falls for a reclusive movie star, Hugh Grant’s Will Thacker is rendered speechless by the ethereal goddess that is Roberts’s Anna Scott. Roberts seamlessly embodies a character who is warm and relaxed one moment, then cold and prickly the next, showcasing her captivating mercurial nature while remaining magnetic throughout.
Erin Brockovich (2000)
This role, which finally earned Roberts a Best Actress Oscar, showcases her raw talent as the titular force of nature. Roberts portrays an unemployed single mother who convinces Albert Finney’s Ed Masry to hire her at his law firm. She then unravels a shocking truth about a gas and electricity company poisoning the groundwater of a small desert town. Under Steven Soderbergh’s direction, Roberts delivers a fierce and outspoken performance, razor-sharp yet empathetic, and undeniably sexy, delivering what is arguably her most powerful performance to date.
Closer (2004)
In Mike Nichols’s tense and gripping tale of adultery and ennui alongside Clive Owen, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman, Roberts completely sheds her wholesome rom-com image, portraying an icy and enigmatic photographer who takes no prisoners. This role definitively demonstrates her versatility and ability to embrace complex and challenging characters.
Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
Roberts collaborates with Mike Nichols for the second time in this political drama, playing a shrewd and strategic foil to Tom Hanks’s freewheeling congressman. With a dramatic bouffant, thick Southern accent, and a wardrobe of sleek 80s cocktail dresses, she embodies a character who is both captivating and intimidating. The scene where she removes her mascara with a safety pin while discussing foreign policy perfectly encapsulates her character: exacting, relentless, and utterly terrifying.
August: Osage County (2013)
In John Wells’s venomous family saga about the search for a missing patriarch, Roberts proves to be more than a match for Meryl Streep. In a particularly memorable sequence, she physically lunges at Streep, showcasing her explosive energy and earning another Oscar nomination for her performance.
Wonder (2017)
In Stephen Chbosky’s tender coming-of-age story, Roberts portrays a supportive and loving mother to a 10-year-old boy with a rare facial disfigurement who is apprehensive about starting school. Her performance is truly wondrous: gentle, steadfast, and understanding, while also conveying the quiet fear of how the world will treat her son.
Homecoming (2018)
Roberts made a significant foray into television with this unsettling psychological thriller from Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg. In the role of a diner waitress reflecting on her time as an administrator at a mysterious government facility designed to help veterans transition back to civilian life, Roberts delivers a subtle, enigmatic, and compelling performance, proving her ability to captivate audiences in a new medium.
Gaslit (2022)
Roberts’s prestige drama streak continues with Robbie Pickering’s electrifying account of the Watergate scandal. She sinks her teeth into the role of Martha Mitchell, the extravagantly dressed and famously outspoken wife of the US attorney general under Nixon, who refuses to conform and faces grave consequences. This barnstorming performance, showcasing her range and depth, reaffirms that Roberts continues to grow and evolve as an actress, proving she only gets better with age.
