Julia Roberts has embraced a variety of lead roles in her career, notably starring in numerous romantic dramas and comedies. However, when it comes to depicting physical intimacy on screen, the Pretty Woman actress maintains certain personal choices of what not to do. Roberts, who was titled People’s Most Beautiful Woman five times, revealed that she will never strip down n*ked for a role.
When calling her movies G-rated, Roberts clarified that her stance is not a judgment on the choices of other actors. Roberts earned an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Erin Brockovich. She was recently seen in the Netflix smasher hit, Leave the World Behind.
Julia Roberts Opens Up About Never Filming N*de Scenes
Director Richard Curtis interviewed Julia Roberts for the British Vogue magazine, which featured her on its covers this month. The Wonder actress had previously worked with Curtis on his film Notting Hill. During the interview, Curtis delved into the topic of Roberts’ “feminist face”, asking her whether she saw herself as a representation of women in cinema.
Roberts responded that her choices, particularly what she opts not to do, are reflective of her representation. She elaborated by pointing to her preference for G-rated movies. She stated that she chose not to take off her clothes or engage in vulnerable physical portrayals on screen. Roberts added that it was a choice she made for herself, without judging the decisions made by other actors. The Eat Pray Love actress explained to Curtis for Vogue U.K.:
“You know, not to be criticizing others’ choices, but for me to not take off my clothes in a movie or be vulnerable in physical ways is a choice that I guess I make for myself. But in effect, I’m choosing not to do something as opposed to choosing to do something.”
Unlike most other actresses, Julia Roberts has been candid about her stance on n*dity in her films. The Ocean’s Eleven actress told The Standard in 2012 that such intimate scenes were not her thing, particularly as a “mom of three”. She shared that the filmmaker would have to “tone down” such scenes if they wished to cast her in a role (via The Times). She and her husband Danny Moder have twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, both 19, and a son Henry, 16.
Julia Roberts Also Revealed Her Other Preferences
While Julia Roberts will not strip down n*ked for a role, filmmakers should also know that she prefers not to die in a movie. She revealed this to Richard Curtis during the interview, along with the fact that she loved the romantic comedy genre. She revealed the 1940 romantic comedy, The Philadelphia Story, as her favorite. Roberts added that she felt incredibly lucky to have acted in rom-coms like Pretty Woman, Notting Hill, and My Best Friend’s Wedding. She shared:
“I love the [romantic comedy] genre. I mean, my desert island movie would probably be The Philadelphia Story. I also think it’s incredibly tricky. I never realised the windfall of good fortune I had until it was well behind me. Like, to have made Pretty Woman, Notting Hill and My Best Friend’s Wedding. They just don’t come one after another [normally]. So I think I got lucky.”
However, she disclosed that playing Anna Scott in Curtis’s film Notting Hill was one of her most difficult roles. Roberts admitted feeling uncomfortable in the role of a movie actress. She revealed that she almost didn’t accept the part, as she didn’t know how to play that person.
Roberts’s recent film, Leave the World Behind, is now available for streaming on Netflix. Also, her collaboration with Curtis, Notting Hill, is now available for streaming on Prime Video.
