In a heartwarming twist of fate, legendary actress Julia Roberts’ life began with a touch of kindness from none other than Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. Believe it or not, 57 years ago in Smyrna, Georgia, the Kings stepped in and covered Julia Roberts’ hospital bill after her parents were unable to do so.
Little did anyone know then that this young girl, whose early days were touched by such generosity, would blossom into one of America’s most beloved actresses. Julia Roberts’ career went on to shine brightly, culminating in an Oscar win for her unforgettable performance in Erin Brockovich and countless other accolades.
The Story of How Julia Roberts Came Into the World
Civil rights legend Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, paid the hospital bill when Julia Roberts was born in Smyrna, Georgia, in 1967. She shared this interesting detail about her past in her interview with Gayle King. The clip of Julia talking about their close connection resurfaced on her 55th birthday.
During the talk, King asked Roberts about her little-known connection to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Let’s start with the day you were born. Who paid for the hospital bill?” King asked.
“Okay, her research is very good,” Roberts said with a smile, pointing to Gayle King.
Today is Julia Roberts birthday! 55 years ago MLK and Coretta Scott King paid for her parents hospital bill after she was born. Can’t stop thinking about this since I read it. Here she is talking about it with @GayleKing https://t.co/5HvpNSUIYb pic.twitter.com/147x6d807W
— Zara Rahim (@ZaraRahim) October 28, 2022
The actress then confirmed that Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, paid for Roberts’s mother’s hospital bill when she gave birth to Roberts.
“My parents had a theater school in Atlanta called the Actors and Writers Workshop, and one day, Coretta Scott King called my mother and asked if her kids could be part of the school, ’cause they were having a hard time finding a place that would accept her kids. And my mom is like, ‘Sure, come on over.’ And so, they just all became friends, and they helped us out of a jam,” Roberts explained. (Via Oprah Daily)
Gayle King also noted,
“Yeah, because in the ’60s, you didn’t have little Black children interacting with little white kids in acting school. And your parents were like, ‘Come on in.’ I think that’s extraordinary, and it sort of lays the groundwork for who you are.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Julia Roberts replied affirmatively.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was from Atlanta, became one of the most prominent civil rights leaders in the United States. With nonviolent protests, he helped lead the movement to advance the rights of people of color.
Julia Roberts Struggled with Body Image Issues in the 1990s
Hollywood darling Julia Roberts, known for her infectious smile and captivating performances, has openly discussed her surprising struggles with body image in the 1990s. Her versatile acting skills and timeless beauty have made her one of the leading actresses in the industry. However, even someone as celebrated as Roberts faced such struggles in the 1990s.
Reflecting on her iconic role as Vivian Ward in the 1990 film Pretty Woman, for which she received a Best Actress Oscar nomination, Roberts revealed some behind-the-scenes insights. Vivian, a character who agrees to accompany Richard Gere’s Edward Lewis to various social events, showcased a range of looks, including a memorable black and white outfit worn when introduced as a prostitute in the movie.
Recalling about her outfit, she told British Vogue,
“The funny thing about this dress is I think it was about $20. It was, I think, black and white and the costume designer changed it up to make it a little bit different and the boots were really uncomfortable.”
Roberts confessed that she wore the jacket frequently because she was conscious of her figure, feeling that it helped conceal what she perceived as a “big b*tt.”
“Well, I wore this outfit a lot. The jacket, I thought I had a big b*tt and that’s why I wore that jacket like that in the movie.”
Pretty Woman became a massive success, earning over $460 million worldwide and establishing Roberts as a leading star in romantic comedies.
Pretty Woman is streaming on Hulu.
