Julia Roberts Titles in the People in the News series include: Drew Barrymore Madonna Tony Blair Dominique Moceanu Garth Brooks Rosie O’Donnell Sandra Bullock Brad Pitt George W. Bush Colin Powell Jim Carrey Prince William Michael Crichton Princess Diana Tom Cruise Christopher Reeve Matt Damon Julia Roberts Celine Dion The Rolling Stones Michael J. Fox J.K. Rowling Bill Gates Will Smith Mel Gibson Britney Spears John Grisham Steven Spielberg Tom Hanks R.L. Stine Jesse Jackson Michael Jackson Sting Michael Jordan Jesse Ventura Stephen King Oprah Winfrey George Lucas Tiger Woods Table of Contents Foreword 6 Introduction Julia 8 Chapter 1 Georgia Girl 12 Chapter 2 Suddenly a Superstar 29 Chapter 3 Dealing with Fame 36 Chapter 4 Marriage and Challenges 50 Chapter 5 Trying New Things 61 Chapter 6 Enjoying the Extraordinary 69 Chapter 7 Oscar Winner 85 Notes 95 Important Dates in the Life of Julia Roberts 100 For Further Reading 102 Works Consulted 103 Index 107 Picture Credits 111 About the Author 112 Foreword F AME AND CELEBRITY are alluring. People are drawn to those who walk in fame’s spotlight, whether they are known for great accomplishments or for notorious deeds. The lives of the fa- mous pique public interest and attract attention, perhaps be- cause their experiences seem in some ways so different from, yet in other ways so similar to, our own. Newspapers, magazines, and television regularly capitalize on this fascination with celebrity by running profiles of famous people. For example, television programs such as Entertainment Tonight devote all of their programming to stories about enter- tainment and entertainers. Magazines such as People fill their pages with stories of the private lives of famous people. Even newspapers, newsmagazines, and television news frequently delve into the lives of well-known personalities. Despite the number of articles and programs, few provide more than a su- perficial glimpse at their subjects. Lucent’s People in the News series offers young readers a deeper look into the lives of today’s newsmakers, the influences that have shaped them, and the impact they have had in their fields of endeavor and on other people’s lives. The subjects of the series hail from many disciplines and walks of life. They in- clude authors, musicians, athletes, political leaders, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and others who have made a mark on modern life and who, in many cases, will continue to do so for years to come. These biographies are more than factual chronicles. Each book emphasizes the contributions, accomplishments, or deeds that have brought fame or notoriety to the individual and shows how that person has influenced modern life. Authors portray their subjects in a realistic, unsentimental light. For example, Bill Gates——the cofounder and chief executive officer of the 6 Foreword 7 software giant Microsoft——has been instrumental in making per- sonal computers the most vital tool of the modern age. Few dis- pute his business savvy, his perseverance, or his technical expertise, yet critics say he is ruthless in his dealings with com- petitors and driven more by his desire to maintain Microsoft’s dominance in the computer industry than by an interest in fur- thering technology. In these books, young readers will encounter inspiring sto- ries about real people who achieved success despite enormous obstacles. Oprah Winfrey——the most powerful, most watched, and wealthiest woman on television today——spent the first six years of her life in the care of her grandparents while her unwed mother sought work and a better life elsewhere. Her adoles- cence was colored by promiscuity, pregnancy at age fourteen, rape, and sexual abuse. Each author documents and supports his or her work with an array of primary and secondary source quotations taken from diaries, letters, speeches, and interviews. All quotes are foot- noted to show readers exactly how and where biographers de- rive their information and provide guidance for further research. The quotations enliven the text by giving readers eyewitness views of the life and accomplishments of each person covered in the People in the News series. In addition, each book in the series includes photographs, annotated bibliographies, timelines, and comprehensive indexes. For both the casual reader and the student researcher, the People in the News series offers insight into the lives of today’s newsmakers——people who shape the way we live, work, and play in the modern age. Introduction Julia J ULIA ROBERTS DIDN’T plan to become a superstar. She wasn’t lured into acting by the pursuit of fame and money. She didn’t consciously work at gaining the public’s attention. She just wanted to be an actress, and a good one. Roberts found the profession in- teresting, exciting, challenging, and simply tried to do her best every time she set to work on a new role. The fame and money that came with her success surprised and challenged her. Roberts’s genuine personality and strong work ethic have worked in her favor. She’s become one of the most popular celebrities in the world. Known for both her acting ability and intriguing personal life, Roberts’s lifestyle has been shaped by the way she deals with her successes and failures as an actress, as well as the attention generated by her offscreen activities. Part Southern lady, part sassy free spirit, Roberts has become a suc- cessful Oscar-winning actress who thrives on the varied experi- ences her career offers. Success came quickly to Roberts, who was only seventeen when she decided to give acting a try. Within a few years she at- tracted attention in Mystic Pizza and soon after was receiving Oscar nominations for her performances in Steel Magnolias and Pretty Woman. Since then her movie credits and relationships have kept her consistently in the spotlight. It was difficult for Roberts to adjust to the demands of fame. Interview requests, the pressure to accept movie offers, and the loss of privacy weighed upon the young actress. Roberts learned to step back, evaluate her life and career, and come to terms with her worth as a person as well as an actress. Deciding it was 8 Julia 9 pointless to strive continually to make others happy, she has come to understand the importance of making her own deci- sions and reserving some of her energy for herself. Roberts cannot escape the fact that she is a highly sought-after actress. She is constantly in demand because she has the ability to bring people to the theater and the clout to bring a project to fruition. For all of her confidence as an actress and movie pro- ducer, she has an open, vulnerable personality that has enhanced her acting ability but caused her pain in her personal life. She was engaged to actors Dylan McDermott and Kiefer Sutherland, mar- ried to and divorced from country singer Lyle Lovett, and ended a four-year relationship with actor Benjamin Bratt. Throughout her career Roberts’s romantic life has been played out in the press. Every time she goes on a date it is newsworthy enough to gener- ate a tabloid story or photo. Julia Roberts’s bright smile and talent make her one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood today. 10 Julia Roberts Roberts accepts an award at the People’s Choice Awards ceremony in January 2000. To come to terms with a life that is being constantly scruti- nized, Roberts looks for something positive in every situation. She does not look upon her miscues at the box office or her bro- ken relationships as mistakes. Rather, she sees them as experi- ences that have helped her grow and shape her life. Roberts has learned to make decisions and not look back, even when some Julia 11 of her personal and professional choices have been questioned. Roberts claims to have no regrets about some of her choices, but she has rebounded and used the experiences to enrich her life. Making movies is what makes Roberts happiest. On the set she finds a sense of family and companionship regardless of the state of her private life. Acting can be an exhausting experience for Roberts, as her talent for calling up and exposing her deep- est emotions makes some of her roles extremely difficult and draining. However, with the support she receives from cast and crew members she has learned to make a distinction between the feelings of her characters and her own emotions. The fame her career has generated has made her life difficult in some ways, but she loves the movie-making experience. In Pretty Woman,Roberts wobbled unsteadily into the spot- light. A decade later, she strutted confidently in her Oscar- winning performance in Erin Brockovich. Roberts has learned to move forward with her life and her career with enough re- silience and confidence to become one of the most powerful women in Hollywood.