Early Life and Family

Julia Fiona Roberts was born on October 28, 1967, in Smyrna, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, to Betty Lou Bredemus and Walter Grady Roberts. She is of English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German, and Swedish descent. Her father was a Baptist, and her mother was Catholic; Roberts was raised Catholic. She has an older brother, Eric Roberts, an older sister, Lisa Roberts Gillan, and a niece, Emma Roberts, all of whom are actors. She also had a younger half-sister named Nancy Motes.

Roberts's parents, both actors and playwrights, co-founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop and ran a children's acting school in Decatur, Georgia. The children of Coretta and Martin Luther King Jr. attended the school, and Walter Roberts served as acting coach for their daughter, Yolanda.

Career

1980s

Roberts made her film debut in the late 1980s with roles in 'Satisfaction' (1988) and 'Mystic Pizza' (1988). Her performance in 'Steel Magnolias' (1989) earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.

1990s

Roberts's breakthrough came with 'Pretty Woman' (1990), where she played Vivian Ward, a role that earned her a second Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. She continued to star in successful films such as 'Sleeping with the Enemy' (1991), 'The Pelican Brief' (1993), 'My Best Friend's Wedding' (1997), and 'Notting Hill' (1999).

2000s

In 2000, Roberts portrayed Erin Brockovich in the eponymous film, earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress. She became the first actress to be paid $20 million for a film. Other notable films during this period include 'Ocean's Eleven' (2001), 'Ocean's Twelve' (2004), and 'Charlie Wilson's War' (2007).

2010s

Roberts starred in 'Eat Pray Love' (2010), 'August: Osage County' (2013), and 'Wonder' (2017). She also appeared in the television series 'Homecoming' (2018), marking her first regular television role.

2020s

Roberts reunited with George Clooney in 'Ticket to Paradise' (2022) and portrayed Martha Mitchell in the television series 'Gaslit' (2022). She also starred in 'Leave the World Behind' (2023), an adaptation of Rumaan Alam's novel.

Personal Life

Roberts has been married to cinematographer Daniel Moder since July 4, 2002. The couple has three children: twins, a daughter and a son, born in November 2004, and another son born in June 2007.

Philanthropy

Roberts has been involved with UNICEF and other charitable organizations. In 1995, she visited Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to raise awareness and aid for the region. She has also supported environmental causes and narrated documentaries to raise awareness about climate change.

Awards and Honors

Roberts has received multiple awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actress, three Golden Globe Awards, and a BAFTA Award. In 2025, she was honored as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture for her contributions to cinema.