Julia Roberts is one of the most famous celebrities in Hollywood. But what can we learn about the star of ‘Pretty Woman’ from her employees’ comments?

HIGHLIGHTS

 Julia Roberts has a reputation for boosting the confidence of those she works with and has helped jumpstart the careers of several individuals.
 Roberts cares about her employees and wants them to succeed in the industry, often opening doors for them and helping them make connections.
 While Roberts may have some unconventional requests and habits, she treats her bodyguards well and ensures they have comfortable accommodations while working.

Julia Roberts (who is not really a Roberts) is often longingly referred to in Hollywood as America’s Sweetheart. Usually, such a title is reserved for new and young rising starlets in Tinseltown, but the Erin Brockovich star has successfully maintained her status over the course of her over three-decade-long career in the movie business. All because she continues to be hailed as one of the nicest, sweetest people to work with.

Even behind the scenes, Roberts has had such a reputation among not only her peers but also the staff who work for her. However, everyone has their moments and even requests of their employees that may seem unorthodox, including Roberts. As such, not everyone has had flattering things to say about her.

Updated October 2023: Like all celebrities, Julia Roberts has had experiences with co-workers, employees, and fans that vary depending on when she is approached. By and large, however, it appears that those who have been fortunate to work with the actor have nothing but nice things to say about her.

While there are some quirky things about Roberts and the requests she has of her employees, just about everyone in Hollywood has things about them that may seem strange to those who are not in the limelight. What can be said about Roberts though is that she has never exhibited any diva-like behavior as a boss or co-star that other stars are known for.

10. Julia Roberts Is A Confidence Booster

Julia Roberts Helped Tony Parsons Gain Notoriety

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In 2004, Roberts bought the film rights to Tony Parsons’ book, The Family Way. She then hired him to write the screenplay adaptation.

Eventually, production came to a halt and the film never made it to the big screen, but Parsons was more than grateful for the experience and feels like he gained a load of confidence from working with Roberts.

While recalling his experience to The Mirror, not only did he say “the experience with her gave me a confidence that was never there before,” but said working for Roberts was “like being in the court of Queen Elizabeth I when the monarch says: ‘Give this man 10 ships.’ Nobody argues.”

9. Julia Roberts Allows Others To Fulfill Their Dreams

Fans Turned Professionals Feel Inspired By Julia Roberts’ Mere Presence

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When not only staring down your favorite movie star but working alongside them as well, it is hard not to get just a little bit starstruck. This was the case for Roberto Gonzalez, who as a floral designer for Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios. He has worked with everyone in the limelight ranging from Shania Twain to Barack Obama during his time in office, but there was something different being around Roberts.

Gonzalez admitted that designing floral pieces for Barack Obama’s birthday was the professional highlight of his career. But on a personal note, he enjoyed working for Roberts the most.

“Working for Julia Roberts was special,” Gonzalez explained. “As a gay kid growing up in Venezuela, Pretty Woman was secretly one of my favorite movies.”

8. Julia Roberts Helps Open Doors

Julia Roberts Wants Those Coming Up In The Industry To Be Successful

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It means something to put “worked for Julia Roberts” on your resume. Just ask Suzanne Weinert, who as a teen attending Colombia University answered an ad in the paper for an internship. An internship that included taking care of Roberts on set.

In between getting her MFA in Filmmaking at school, Weinert tended to the needs of Roberts on several of her movies. The experiences opened doors that allowed Weinert to assist Ron Howard on the set of The Paper.

Weinert also helped Roberts with her production company, Shoelace Productions. This is because Roberts made her vice president of the company.

As a result of all the networking and working with Roberts, Weinert is the president of her own production company, Flatiron Pictures.

7. Julia Roberts Kickstarts Careers

Julia Roberts Does Her Best To Make Everyone Shine On A Project

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By the same sword, it can be said that working with or for Roberts can kickstart careers, in more ways than one, just like it did for Giuseppe Maccari.

For those unfamiliar with the name, Maccari is an author, college professor, computer programmer, and above all else, a specialist in crafting 3D worlds as a cinematographer.

Early into his career, the Rome resident worked for Roberts in creating an Italian commercial that became insanely popular. Once it was discovered that Maccari was the genius behind the commercial, he was asked to join Kickstarter shortly afterward.

6. Julia Roberts Does Not Have The Best Hygiene

Julia Roberts Saves Water But Not Showering Daily

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Because they have the money for it, we typically expect celebrities to have the best grooming and hygiene, especially for someone with as much luscious hair as Roberts’. Apparently, this isn’t always the case.

A former security guard of Julia Roberts once spoke to Star Magazine about her hygiene. According to the bodyguard, it wasn’t the best.

“Julia is a total hippie,” the bodyguard recalled. “She’ll go days without showering. She likes to save water, she’s really green. And she likes the smell of her natural oils.”

5. Protecting Julia Roberts Comes With Perks

Julia Roberts Makes Sure Bodyguards Have Comfortable Accommodations When Working

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In 2009, Roberts arrived in India to begin shooting scenes for the film Eat, Pray, Love. Upon arrival, she came in with a reported 300+ security guards on deck. One of those security guards speaking to ABC News later clarified that those reports were a bit exaggerated as there were closer to 50 guards protecting Roberts.

Regardless of how many guards there actually were, it sounds like a tough, exhausting task, to protect Roberts. But considering that both Roberts and her guards were allowed to live in a lavish palace while in India, it couldn’t have been too bad.

4. Julia Roberts Has High Expectations Of Her Nanny

Julia Roberts Wanted Her Kids To Think She Put Them To Bed Nightly

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Roberts can have odd hours when it comes to shooting films or going to events to promote her movies. But because she wanted her children to believe it was her putting them down nightly when they were younger, and have as normal and relaxed environment as possible, she required her nanny to wear a wig when putting them to bed.

In an interview with Star Magazine, a nanny recalled the Oscar-winning actress insisting that she needed to wear long red wigs whenever she tucked her children into bed and told them bedtime stories.

“It was a bit weird, but I get it,” the nanny explained. “She hoped [the kids] would think it was [their mom, Julia Roberts] putting them to sleep instead of the sitter.”

3. Julia Roberts Employees Pitch In To Care For The Kids

Julia Roberts Is Hands-On With Parenting But Not With Carrying Kids’ Belongings

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It was once reported that when Roberts’ twins were two months old, they were accompanied into the town, possibly for a fresh trip out into the open breeze for fun in the Taos, New Mexico sun or perhaps even a venture to a doctor’s office, by their nanny.

Despite Roberts’ husband Daniel Moder being with her, it was the nanny who was carrying all of Roberts’ twins’ belongings. All while another assistant was on hand to carry one of the babies.

It appears as though anyone working for Roberts should expect some heavy-duty lifting at any time of the day.

2. Julia Roberts Likes To Experiment

Julia Roberts Enjoys Changing Her Appearance

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Roberts is fearless when it comes to her hair. For several years now, Serge Normant has served as a hairstylist on many of Roberts’ films. In speaking to Yahoo! about his time working on her hair, he said that she was always open to trying new things with her hair.

“She’s not afraid to experiment,” Normant explained when mentioning the fact Roberts’s hair can go from straight to curly to long to short, etc. “Her hairstyle moves with her mood; it just has to be something that’s easy and effortless, not contrived.”

1. Julia Roberts Likes To Relax With A Cocktail

Julia Roberts Works Hard And Likes To Unwind By Imbibing

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George Clooney has worked with Roberts countless times, most notably in the Ocean’s trilogy. And those who are lucky enough to work with both actors in a film have nothing but the kindest things to say about both Clooney and Roberts.

When it came time to produce her movie, August: Osage County, in 2013, Clooney went on record at the American Film Festival screening that Roberts is easiest to work with when she’s drunk. Obviously, he meant this jokingly, but perhaps future employees should take Clooney’s advice to heart.

“As you well know, Julia is an alcoholic,” Clooney joked. “It was easier to work with her because you just offer her booze, apply that with anything.”