That broad smile, that gloriously curly hair, that eternal air of optimism – Julia Roberts has always been an exuberant screen presence, and whether she’s playing a conniving food critic, an outspoken activist, or a loose-lipped, ’70s-era political insider, she’s also, always, instantly recognisable. To many, she’ll forever be the rom-com queen of the ’90s – rolling out a bevy of frothy, feelgood instant classics – but, in recent years, she’s also proved herself to be a formidable character actor, navigating tense thrillers as effortlessly as she does heartwarming family dramas. As she celebrates her 57th birthday, we look back at her best performances from the last three decades.
Pretty Woman (1990) It’s impossible to imagine anyone other than Roberts playing the glorious, gregarious redhead Vivian Ward who enchants Richard Gere’s stuffy corporate raider in Garry Marshall’s steamy romance. She emerged from it a household name, Hollywood heavyweight and verified fashion icon, with an Oscar nomination to boot. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) There are so many reasons to watch PJ Hogan’s delightful romp: that moment when the wedding party sings “I Say a Little Prayer”; Rupert Everett’s scene-stealing supporting performance; Cameron Diaz’s turn from perky to ferocious; but also Roberts’s delicious embodiment of a cynical journalist who pursues her best friend (Dermot Mulroney), despite the fact that he’s engaged to another woman.
Notting H.
