Julia Roberts on career choices, staying grounded, and embracing every chapter.
After nearly four decades in the spotlight, Julia Roberts remains one of Hollywood’s most magnetic stars. With her signature laugh and a career built on both blockbuster charm and serious substance, the 57-year-old is now returning to the big screen in After the Hunt, a suspenseful drama that sees her dig deeper than ever before.
“Something about the script just stayed with me,” she says. “It wasn’t loud or flashy – it was quietly devastating. And that intrigued me.”
It’s a far cry from the romantic comedies that made her famous, but Roberts has long since stopped worrying about fitting into anyone’s idea of who she should be. “I’ve always tried to do the work that speaks to me at the time,” she explains. “Early on, it was about instinct; now it’s more about balance. What does the story give me? And what does it take from me?”
Balance, of course, also means family. Roberts and her husband, cinematographer Danny Moder, live in California with their three children, far from the glare of Hollywood.
“Being a mum is the most grounding thing,” she says. “The film business can be a whirlwind, but home resets everything. It reminds me of so many elements that just aren’t there in showbusiness – the option to choose to be kinder is always open to us… to take a nicer approach to how we deal with things rather than being negative or sarcastic. It’s about being a little more positive and a little sweeter.”
Despite the fame and acclaim – including an Oscar win for Erin Brockovich and global adoration for Pretty Woman – Roberts remains refreshingly unguarded. “I don’t take myself too seriously,” she laughs. “I mean, it’s not brain surgery. It’s storytelling. It’s make-believe. That perspective has always helped me stay sane.”
When not reflecting on what has been a stunning career, Roberts speaks candidly about growing older in an industry obsessed with youth. “There’s no handbook for aging as a woman in Hollywood,” she says. “Essentially, I’m lucky. I’ve been able to evolve, to try new things, and I’m not chasing some version of myself from 20 years ago. That would be exhausting.”
She credits her long-time collaborators – directors like Steven Soderbergh and Mike Nichols – for helping her grow. “Working with people who challenge you is such a gift,” she says. “They see things in you that you don’t even see in yourself.” And as for her audience, Roberts remains genuinely grateful. “I think if people still want to see me on screen, that’s the real miracle. And if I can surprise them, even better.”
