The Julia Effect

Thirty Years Since Her Famous Smile First Lit Up Screens, America’s Sweetheart Julia Roberts Talks About Beauty, Ageing and Family Life

- Fabrice Gaignault

Recently named People Magazine World’s Most Beautiful Woman for the fifth time in 26 years, Julia Roberts is not just a ‘pretty woman’. Over and above her timeless beauty and signature smile is a body of work that has cemented her as a Hollywood heavyweight. It’s been three decades since her first role in the little-known, straight to-video Firehouse. The intervening years have seen her starring in more than 50 cult classics, box-office smashes and critically acclaimed films, not to mention receiving multiple award nominations, three Golden Globes and the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in 2000’s Erin Brockovich.

Her latest project, Wonder, is due for release at the end of this year. In it, Julia plays the mother of a young boy whose childhood has been affected by a facial deformity, and who struggles to teach his peers that beauty is more than skin deep. She is also an ambassador for Lancôme. In Malibu, near her home, Julia, 49, sits down for a rare and candid interview.

Most people still associate you with Pretty Woman. Does that ever bother you, since you have been in so many other excellent films since?

I’ve learned to live with it. And, besides, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I think it mainly comes from the title: people like to tell me that I’m a ‘pretty woman’, like a compliment that’s also a play on words. And if this film still has such an effect on people, then there must be something timeless about it.

Your smile could cheer up the saddest person. Was there ever a time that you felt self-conscious about it?

No, not at all. Show business has a way of shining the spotlight on details that you suddenly become aware of. It could be the way that you smile or walk or do such or such a thing. I never even thought about my smile for the first 18 years of my life.