40 Photos of Julia Roberts and Her Golden Smile Through the Years
Get ready to experience pure joy.
Julia Roberts has been in the business for more than 30 years, which means, yes, it’s super hard to have just one favorite Julia Roberts movie. Whether your absolute fave is Pretty Woman, Steel Magnolias, My Best Friend’s Wedding, or Eat Pray Love (or something else—see, it's hard!), the years have been all the more better thanks to the Oscar winning actress’ pearly whites. Seriously, can you think of anyone else with a smile as warm and infectious as this lady’s?
The epitome of Hollywood glam, Julia has casually picked up some of the most prestigious hardware along the way, including three Golden Globes and one Oscar, and she hasn’t shown signs of stopping any time soon. Here, a celebration of her career, with special appearances by Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, a young Bradley Cooper (yep), and of course, that smile.
December 1985
Julia Fiona Roberts was born in Smyrna, Georgia. She hails from a family of actors, which includes brother Eric (seen here second from left with Julia and actor Jon Voight at an event in NYC). Julia's niece, Emma, is the daughter of Eric.
September 1989
Julia and her signature smile first made waves with the 1988 coming-of-age film Mystic Pizza, but her official screen debut happened in a direct-to-video feature called Firehouse.
November 1989
In 1989, Julia was part of an all-star cast for Steel Magnolias, aka the film that will make you weep for days and make you want to call your mother and all the women in your life.
January 1990
Her role as Shelby, a newlywed with diabetes, in Steel Magnolias earned Julia her first Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. She took home the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture at the 47th Golden Globes, beating out the likes of Bridget Fonda and Dianne Wiest.
March 1990
Not long after meeting on the set of Flatliners, Julia began dating Kiefer Sutherland (they are seen here together at the 62nd Academy Awards). Their whirlwind romance ended in 1991 when Julia called off their wedding three days before the ceremony. Yes, she was a real-life Runaway Bride, a film that would be release nearly 10 years later.
January 1991
In 1991, Julia won her second Golden Globe, this time for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical, for Pretty Woman. Just like her first win, Julia wore an oversized suit and looked absolutely radiant.
April 1992
The queen of oversized suits continued her reign in 1992 when she hit a fashion show at the Royalton Hotel in NYC.
October 1993
Julia and her first husband, country singer Lyle Lovett, are seen here at the 31st annual New York Film Festival some four months after tying the knot. In a 1993 interview with Barbara Walters, Julia said gushed about him being "perfect," "nice," and having "a very strong reaction to meeting him" through mutual friends. "I feel like I'm gushing." The couple split in 1995.
June 1997
In 1997, Julia starred in one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time, My Best Friend's Wedding, about two best friends (Julia and Dermot Mulroney) who make a pact to marry each other by 28. Her only problem? He announces an unexpected engagement to Cameron Diaz! The film grossed some $299 million at the box office, which was a pretty big deal for 1997 since the top-grossing film that year was a little picture called Titanic.
December 1998
From 1998 to 2001, Julia was one-half of Hollywood's most glamorous couple with fellow thespian Benjamin Bratt. During their courtship, the couple ruled multiple red carpets, award shows, and in 1999, Julia even guest stared on an episode of Benjamin's show, Law & Order. The role earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination, NBD.
April 1999
In 1999, Julia was just a girl, standing in front of a boy (Hugh Grant), asking him to love her in Notting Hill. She was also the recipient of another Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress (but lost to Janet McTeer).
July 1999
This iconic Julia look with a strapless LBD and pink shawl was worn to the Hollywood premiere of Runaway Bride, a film that reunited the actress with her Pretty Woman co-star Richard Gere and director Garry Marshall.
March 2000
Julia played real-life environmental activist Erin Brockovich in a film that was released in 2000. The movie was a box office success, received rave reviews, and earned Julia her first Oscar (see slide 16).
September 2000
Leave it to Julia to rock an oversized collar to go with this otherwise standard black blazer.
March 2001
Julia took home her first Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Erin Brockovich in 2001 and gave an emotional speech while kindly telling the guy in charge of the wrap-it-up music to sit back down. “Sir, you’re doing a great job, but you’re so quick with that stick, so why don’t you sit,” she said. “I may never be here again.”
March 2002
An Oscar win meant an automatic invitation to the ceremony the following year. In 2002, Julia wore this long sleeve black dress with cutouts to present a tribute to Katharine Hepburn. And if you must know, the third Lord of the Rings movie, The Return of the King, was named Best Picture.
December 2003
Between Erin Brockovich and Mona Lisa’s Smile, the film Julia was promoting in this gorgeous photo, the actress starred in six films, including The Mexican, America’s Sweethearts, and Ocean’s Eleven. Fun fact: Julia met her second husband Danny Moder, a cinematographer, on the set of The Mexican. The two tied the knot in 2002.
February 2004
Julia channeled old school Hollywood glam in this silk gown by Giorgio Armani for the 76th annual Academy Awards. She would not be seen at public events for the majority of the year for two good reasons: she and Danny welcomed twins Hazel and Patricia in November 2004 (the same month Closer opened in theaters).
February 2005
Julia posing with your dream BFF Oprah Winfrey is just about the best thing ever. Someone frame this ASAP!
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