The many loves and lives of Julia Roberts

"I love the world," says Julia Roberts. And, writes celebrated Egyptian actress Lubna Abdel-Aziz, the world loves her back
Our Pretty Woman is now sitting pretty -- right on top of the world, Oscar tightly clutched in her hand and of course the never-ending smile permanently etched on her pretty face. And why not? She just won Hollywood's most coveted award as Erin Brokovich in the film of the same name. Oscar night was Julia Robert's biggest night. All eyes were focused on her as she ran up the stage to collect her trophy with her usual giddiness and infectious smile -- Julia once again proved irresistible to the academy members in the theatre as well as the 80 million TV viewers around the globe.
That Pretty Woman has come a long way since she first came to Hollywood some 16 years ago. As she stood on the stage making her acceptance speech on Oscar night in her elegant black Valentino gown, she evoked memories of Hollywood's golden days of movie stardom opulence. Often compared to the legendary Audrey Hepburn, she seems to have more in common with the early comediennes of the 30s, 40s and 50s -- perhaps another Hepburn, as in Katherine. Poise and polish were Audrey Hepburn's trademarks. While Julia is lacking in both qualities she does share her fragility and vulnerability, not to mention that luminous smile that melts our hearts. This ear to ear toothy grin has undoubtedly proved to be Roberts' greatest weapon, one with which she has seduced audiences around the world.
Julia's journey to the Oscars started 33 years ago in the small town of Smyrna in rural Georgia, US. Nee Julie Fiona Roberts, October 1967, she saw her parents divorce when she was five, and her father dead when she was ten. Her childhood was certainly not the happiest. Mocked by her classmates for possessing a long and lanky physique, they made fun, too, of her thick eyeglasses and that wide, endless mouth. She became the object of ridicule everywhere she went. The ugly duckling, however, gradually learned to transform herself into a beautiful swan. She replaced the thick glasses with contact lenses, undressed her long legs in mini skirts, and changed her name to Julia Roberts. After graduating from high school in 1985, she joined her brother Eric and her sister Lisa in New York where they were both trying to break into acting. After three years of selling shoes and ice cream, and doing some odd modeling jobs, Julia got her first break in show business. She landed a minor role opposite her brother Eric in the film Blood Red, in 1988. That led to her first significant acting assignment in Mystic Pizza opposite Liam Neeson.
Hollywood started to notice. In 1989 she played the role of Shelby, the doomed bride in Steel Magnolias opposite Shirley McLaine, Sally Field and Olympia Dukakis -- all previous Oscar winners. Not only did she hold her own but she alone received an Oscar nomination for that film. One year later Garry Marshall offered her the role of Vivian opposite Richard Gere in Pretty Woman which won her another Oscar nomination and the adoration of fans around the world.
So, the rest is history.
Not so fast. After being catapulted into stardom this pretty woman's life gradually started to fall apart. Notorious for falling in love with her leading men, Julia was engaged to Kiefer Sutherland her co-star in Flat-liners in 1990. The wedding was set for 14 June, 1991. A few weeks before the scheduled date, Julia canceled all plans after hearing of Kiefer's indiscretion with a stripper. Her world crumbling, she was hospitalised with a nervous breakdown and found comfort in the arms of actor Jason Patric, Kiefer's best friend. Rumours of drug abuse and anorexia pursued her and she went skidding down a slippery slope, making wrong career choices as well as private ones. Eyebrows were raised when she married an offbeat Texas country singer, Lyle Lovertt, ten years her senior, whom she hardly knew. The couple never moved in together and the marriage ended amicably 21 months later. Among her off-screen leading men were some familiar names, including Liam Neeson, Dylan McDermott, Mathew Perry, Ethan Hawke, Richard Gere, Jason Patric, and for the last three years her constant companion has been Benjamin Bratt, a Mexican-American actor.
The rumours about her many men continued, but it was the less than mediocre, forgettable films that threatened to end her career. Hollywood started to search in earnest for a new Julia Roberts' type, and several emerged, amongst them Sandra Bullock and Julianne Moore. Many believed our Pretty Woman had seen her last days in Hollywood, but Julia Roberts was not to be underrated. She never flinched, never faltered, never despaired. Seven years after Pretty Woman she made a respectable comeback in My Best Friend's Wedding, and around the world a sigh of relief was heard from her fans. Two years and four films later she made her highly acclaimed romantic comedy Notting Hill with Hugh Grant, and then came the crowning of her career -- Erin Brokovich in 2000. Gold was awaiting her plus a $20 million unheard of salary for a screen actress. Only now can we safely say the rest is history.
She has more than once re-invented herself and more than once succeeded with flying colours. The movie Erin Brokovich is an inspirational drama based on a true story of a twice-divorced single mother of three -- a legal secretary who through her perseverance and tenacity exposes a major environmental scandal. Her deeply moving performance won her the much coveted golden statuette, and more important, the adoration of her fans. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes Julia Roberts is a veritable champion. Exuding an eternal freshness, she has grasped triumph from the cave of despair.
An Oscar win can be a curse as well as a blessing and is often described by Hollywood agents as the "kick upstairs". It can make or break stars. Consider some names of Oscar's female winners during the last decade -- Marisa Tomei, Holly Hunter, Mia Sorvino, Emma Thompson, Kate Blanchett and Hillary Swank. What are they doing now?
No such fate awaits our pretty woman. It matters little now if her latest film with Brad Pitt just opened to a lukewarm reception. Her star still ascending, she is not only America's sweetheart but the world's.
"I love the world," she cried holding her Oscar, and Oh how the world loves her back. And if the sky's the limit, this unstoppable star will have to reach other skies and other worlds!
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