Julia Roberts’ 5 most iconic Hollywood movie roles

Hollywood is spread with all kinds of talent but Julia Roberts has a rare kind of magic. With an effortless charm and smile that can light up an entire screen, the actress has rightly been known as America's Sweetheart since the 90s for this very reason. Over the years through her myriad of characters, Julia has made us laugh, cry, fall in love, and believe in second chances. It isn't easy to reached iconic status in the American film industry but there's not many who deserve it more than this actress. From her early breakout hits to her award-winning performances, HELLO! India is taking a look back at the roles that made Julia Roberts a bonafide Hollywood star on the occasion of her 58th birthday. Whether she’s made us laugh in My Best Friend’s Wedding or fought for justice in Erin Brockovich; one thing is clear—she is always unmistakably Julia.

1. Pretty Woman

The most iconic, and obvious one is Pretty Woman. It didn’t just make Julia Roberts a star; it made her a phenomenon. Playing the role of Vivian Ward, the large-hearted woman who doesn't mince words but falls for a businessman played by Richard Gere, she redefined the modern fairy tale love story. From her confidence to that red dress, everything about Julia in this film became pop-culture gold, making it a timeless rom-com that holds even today.

2. Sleeping with the Enemy

Julia went on to turn the tables with a gripping thriller. Playing a woman escaping an abusive marriage, she showed audiences her serious dramatic side. The film proved she wasn’t just a rom-com darling; she could carry the more serious genre with the same authenticity that made her so lovable in Pretty Woman.

3. My Best Friend’s Wedding

This movie was where 90s rom-coms hit their peak. As Julianne Potter, the woman who realises she’s in love with her best friend; on the week he’s getting married, no less!, the actress gave us chaos, comedy, and heartbreak on one screen. She wasn’t playing the perfect heroine this time; she was messy, jealous, and real. Add in I Say a Little Prayer and you’ve got a rom-com classic that is popular enough to withstand time.

4. Erin Brockovich 

This one right here is the Julia Roberts performance. We don't say that lightly as it's also the one that earned her an Oscar and solidified her as one of Hollywood’s acting talents. Based on a true story, the actress played a single mom who takes on a big corporation polluting her town’s water supply. She was fierce, funny, and completely unfiltered; one of her most empowering roles ever.

(Also Read: How The Summer I Turned Pretty’s love triangle became the season’s most popular cross-generational romance)

5. Eat Pray Love

In Eat Pray Love, she played Liz Gilbert, who travels across Italy, India, and Bali to rediscover herself after a divorce. The movie spoke to anyone who’s ever needed to hit pause and start over, making it deeply relatable.

(Also Read: 7 Japanese movies with a global cult following)