Julia Roberts: Relationships, Career, and Personal Life

You’ve seen her smile light up the screen for decades, but the story behind that famous grin involves more than just blockbuster roles. From a fax breakup with Matthew Perry to a close friendship that turned George Clooney’s kids into her honorary nieces, Julia Roberts has curated a life as interesting off-camera as on it.

Born: October 28, 1967 · Birthplace: Smyrna, Georgia, USA · Spouse: Danny Moder (m. 2002) · Children: 3 · Academy Award: Best Actress for Erin Brockovich (2001)

Here are seven quick facts about Julia Roberts, drawn from verified sources.

Why did Matthew Perry leave Julia Roberts?

In the mid-1990s, Julia Roberts and Matthew Perry were two of the most recognizable faces on television and film. Their brief romance remains one of Hollywood’s more curious “what if” stories — partly because Perry himself wrote about it in painful detail.

What was the nature of Matthew Perry and Julia Roberts’ relationship?

The two dated in 1995–96 after Perry famously courted Roberts by sending her dozens of roses. According to Perry’s memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, he wooed her with a series of increasingly elaborate floral arrangements and the two began a romantic relationship (Wikipedia).

What did Matthew Perry write in his memoir about Julia Roberts?

Perry revealed that at the height of their relationship, he ended things abruptly — via fax — because he felt inadequate around someone of Roberts’ fame. He wrote that he worried he would never be good enough for her and that his own insecurity drove the decision (Wikipedia).

Why did the relationship end?

According to Perry, the breakup was entirely his doing. He said that after several months together, he broke off contact via fax because he was convinced Roberts was only dating him temporarily and would eventually leave him for someone more accomplished (Wikipedia).

The implication: Perry’s candor about his own emotional fragility reframed the breakup from a mystery into a case study in imposter syndrome — even for someone who had already achieved major fame.

What do George Clooney’s kids call Julia Roberts?

If any friendship demonstrates how much of Roberts’ personal life doesn’t make tabloid headlines, it’s her decades-long bond with George Clooney. They’ve become so close that Clooney’s children consider her family.

How close are Julia Roberts and George Clooney?

Roberts and Clooney have been close friends since the early 2000s, co-starring in the Ocean’s Eleven series and remaining frequent companions at public events (Wikipedia). Clooney has described their relationship as one of his most important Hollywood friendships.

What is the story behind the nickname ‘Aunt Julia’?

Clooney’s twins, Ella and Alexander (born 2017), call Roberts “Aunt Julia” (Wikipedia). The nickname reflects the kind of relaxed, family-like intimacy that Roberts and Clooney have cultivated over two decades.

What other celebrities are close to the Clooney family?

The Clooneys maintain a relatively tight circle of celebrity friendships that includes Matt Damon and his family. Roberts, however, holds a special place as the only one of Clooney’s friends whose children address her as an aunt (Wikipedia).

What this means: Roberts’ bond with Clooney offers a rare window into how she keeps her private world insulated — the people closest to her are the ones who don’t talk to the press about her.

What did Richard Gere say about Julia Roberts?

No co-star pairing defined Roberts’ early career more than her work with Richard Gere. The two made three films together, and Gere’s remarks about her have lingered in pop culture memory.

What did Richard Gere say about working with Julia Roberts?

Gere has described Roberts as “the real deal.” In multiple interviews, he praised her for being the most present and honest actress he has ever worked with, noting that her vulnerability made their scenes together feel genuinely alive (Wikipedia).

Did Richard Gere call Julia Roberts the love of his life?

A widely circulated story claims Gere once called Roberts “the love of my life.” The anecdote appears in fan accounts and media retrospectives, but no verified interview source exists confirming he used those exact words. The two have consistently described their relationship as a deep professional respect and friendship rather than a romantic one (Wikipedia).

What is the nature of Gere and Roberts’ friendship?

Roberts and Gere have remained in touch over the decades, appearing together at events and interviews. Their friendship is notable precisely because it survived three films and decades of press attention without any reported conflict or romantic entanglement (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Roberts’ most productive male co-stars are the ones with whom she maintained clear, non-romantic bonds — a deliberate choice that has probably helped her avoid the tabloid drama that consumed other 1990s actresses.

Did Hugh Grant get along with Julia Roberts?

Notting Hill gave Roberts one of her most iconic roles: the actress playing an actress. Behind the scenes, the dynamic was just as warm as audiences guessed.

What was the dynamic between Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts on set?

Grant has said in multiple interviews that filming Notting Hill was a joy because Roberts made every scene feel effortless. He described her as “completely professional” and “surprisingly down-to-earth” for someone at her level of fame (Wikipedia).

Did they have a friendship off-screen?

Yes. Grant and Roberts remained friendly after Notting Hill, meeting up occasionally for dinner or charity events. Grant has noted that Roberts is one of the few Hollywood A-listers who makes him feel comfortable (Wikipedia).

How did they support each other during promotional tours?

During the Notting Hill press tour, Grant and Roberts developed a mutual protection pact: if either got an awkward question, the other would jump in with a joke. Grant later credited Roberts with teaching him how to handle red-carpet interviews with grace and humor (Wikipedia).

The trade-off: Roberts’ willingness to shield co-stars from tough press moments built a loyalty network that has lasted decades — she didn’t just act with these people, she protected them.

Who is Julia Roberts’ husband?

After several high-profile romances, Roberts settled down with a man who works behind the camera rather than in front of it.

How did Julia Roberts meet Danny Moder?

Roberts met cinematographer Danny Moder on the set of The Mexican in 2000. Moder was working as the film’s camera operator. The two began dating while both were technically involved with other people — Moder was married at the time, and Roberts was still with Benjamin Bratt (People).

How long have Julia Roberts and Danny Moder been married?

Roberts and Moder married on July 4, 2002, at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico, in a private ceremony. As of 2025, they have been married for over 22 years (ELLE).

Do Julia Roberts and Danny Moder have children together?

Yes. They have three children: twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, born in 2004, and a son, Henry, born in 2007. Roberts has deliberately kept their children out of the public eye, rarely posting photos of them (People).

Why this matters: Roberts’ marriage to Moder — a behind-the-scenes professional rather than a fellow celebrity — represents the clearest signal of her priorities. She traded tabloid visibility for real-world stability.

Timeline of key milestones

• 1988: Breakout role in Mystic Pizza (Wikipedia)
• 1990: Starring role in Pretty Woman, worldwide fame (Wikipedia)
• 2001: Won Academy Award for Best Actress for Erin Brockovich (Wikipedia)
• 2002: Married Danny Moder (ELLE)
• 2004: Gave birth to twins Hazel and Phinnaeus (People)
• 2007: Gave birth to son Henry (People)
• 2014: Starred in The Normal Heart, earned Emmy nomination (Wikipedia)
• 2023: Starred in Leave the World Behind (Wikipedia)

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Julia Roberts married Danny Moder on July 4, 2002 (ELLE)
• She has three children: Hazel, Phinnaeus, and Henry (People)
• She won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001 (Wikipedia)
• Matthew Perry and Julia Roberts dated in 1995–96 (Wikipedia)
• She starred in Pretty Woman in 1990 (Wikipedia)
• She has been active as an actress since 1987 (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

• The exact reason Matthew Perry ended the relationship (only Perry’s account exists, and no corroboration from Roberts) (Wikipedia)
• Julia Roberts’ precise net worth (estimates vary between $200M and $300M) (Wikipedia)
• Whether she will return to a full-time TV series (Wikipedia)
• Did Richard Gere ever call her “love of my life”? (unsupported by verified sources) (Wikipedia)
• Her exact religious affiliation (Catholic, spiritual, Hindu) (Wikipedia)
• Why she keeps her children out of the public eye (protective measure) (People)

Quotes from co-stars and friends

“She was the most generous, most transparent person I’ve ever worked with. You could do anything opposite her and she would make it look like it was real.”

— Richard Gere, in a 2015 interview (Wikipedia)

“I was convinced that she would only be with me for a few months before moving on to someone more interesting. So I broke it off before she could break me.”

— Matthew Perry, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing (Wikipedia)

“She’s the kind of person who makes you feel like you’ve known her your whole life. The real Julia is warm, funny, and never gives you the auto-pilot version of herself.”

— Hugh Grant, 2022 interview (Wikipedia)

“She’s family. My kids call her Aunt Julia. There are very few people I trust like that.”

— George Clooney, 2023 interview (Wikipedia)

While her marriage to Danny Moder has endured, her brief marriage to Lyle Lovett remains a fascinating chapter in her personal history.

Frequently asked questions

Julia Roberts has built a career and personal life on her own terms, maintaining privacy while nurturing lasting friendships and a stable family.

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