Who is Julia Roberts?
Julia Roberts is an American actress who is popularly known for her portrayal of “Vivian Ward” in the 1990 movie “Pretty Woman” and as “Isabel Pullman” in the 2013 movie, “Wonder”. Julia Roberts is widely regarded as one of the most influential Hollywood actresses of the 1990s and early 2000s era.
Julia Roberts’ full name is Julia Fiona Roberts. She was born on October 28, 1967, in Smyrna, Georgia, the United States to her parents – Betty Lou Bredemus (mother) and Walter Grady Roberts (father). As of November 2022, Julia Roberts is 55 years old.
About Julia Roberts’ parents
Julia Roberts’ biological father, Walter Grady Roberts was born in 1933. He had a brief career as an actor and writer. Sadly, he passed away in 1977, at the age of 44. Walter Roberts died of throat cancer. Julia Roberts was only 10 years old when she lost her father.
Julia Roberts’ mother, Betty Lou Bredemus was an American actress and acting coach. She was born on August 13, 1934, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She got married to Walter Roberts (Julia Roberts’ father) in 1955 and they got divorced in January 1972. After her divorce from Walter Roberts, Betty Bredemus married Michael Motes (her second husband). Julia Roberts’ brother, Eric Roberts claimed that Michael Motes was very abusive towards him and his sisters.
He said:
“It was common knowledge where we grew up that Motes was a freak. He would have stood out in a crowd of ten thousand. Whether he married my mother to get close to her children or not, I don’t know. But marrying him was not a good decision or a healthy thing for her children. Our mother’s husband terrorized and abused me, and I fear he terrorized my sisters, Julia and Lisa, as well.”
Michael Motes – Julia Roberts’ gay stepfather
In Julia Roberts’ 2004 biography, “Julia: Her Life” by James Spada, Spada wrote about how Julia Roberts feared and despised her stepfather Michael Motes. An anonymous source also revealed that Michael Motes was an alcoholic who would often engage in heated arguments with Betty Bredemus and her children (Julia, Lisa and Eric).
Motes didn’t have a steady source of income and so, Betty Bredemus became the family’s breadwinner. Betty Bredemus divorced Michael Motes in 1983, citing “cruel treatment” as the reason for the divorce. She also called the marriage the biggest mistake she’d ever made.
Motes announced that he would be writing a book to tell his side of the story. Michael Motes is now openly gay and lives with his partner, Timothy Raasch. Motes is also a volunteer minister at a local church.
Julia Roberts’ mother, Betty Lou Bredemus died on February 19, 2015, in Los Angeles, California after battling lung cancer. At the time of her death, Betty Lou Bredemus was 80 years old.
About Julia Roberts’ siblings
Julia Roberts has two blood siblings from her mother’s marriage to her father and a half-sister from her mother’s marriage to Michael Motes.
a. Eric Roberts
Eric Anthony Roberts is Julia Roberts’ older brother. He is an American actor. He is popularly known for his work in movies like “King of the Gypsies” and “Runaway Train”. Eric Roberts was born on April 18, 1956, in Biloxi, Mississippi, the United States and is currently 66 years old. Julia Roberts and her older brother, Eric Roberts had a strained relationship until 2004 when they made up.
It was said that the reason for their estrangement was that Eric Roberts grew jealous of his sister’s sudden fame and success following her role as “Vivian Ward” in the 1990 movie “Pretty Woman”. However, in June 2022, Eric Roberts stated that he’d always had a good relationship with his younger sister.
He said:
“Julia and I have always been fine. I think years and years ago, I was doing a press tour for some movie. It was just when ‘Pretty Woman’ came out, and so, they’re asking a bunch of questions about Julia. And I said, ‘Hey, excuse me. Can we talk about me?'”
He went on to say that it had come as a surprise to him when he started hearing stories about having “issues” with his sister’s success which wasn’t true. Eric Roberts also added that he prefers to stay out of his sister’s professional life and she does the same for him.
b. Lisa Roberts Gillian
Julia Roberts’ older sister, Lisa Roberts Gillian is an American actress. She was born on January 1, 1965, in Decatur, Georgia, United States to Betty Bredemus and Walter Roberts. She is currently 57 years old.
c. Nancy Motes
Julia Roberts’ half-sister, Nancy Motes was a production assistant on the television series, “Glee.” She was born on May 19, 1976, to Betty Bredemus and her second husband, Michael Motes. Nancy Motes died on February 9, 2004, in Los Angeles, California, from a drug overdose. Her death was ruled as a suicide.
In her suicide note, Nancy Motes accused her mom and siblings of not being there for her.
She wrote:
“My mother and so called ‘siblings’ get nothing except the memory that they are the ones that drove me into the greatest depression I’ve ever been in.”
At the time of her death, Nancy Motes was 37 years old.
About Julia Roberts’ marriage and wedding
As of the time of publishing this article (November 2022), Julia Roberts is married to her second husband of 20 years and counting Daniel Moder. Prior to her marriage to Moder in 2002, Julia Roberts was previously married to Lyle Lovett. She was also previously engaged to British-Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland.
List of Julia Roberts’ boyfriends and relationships
- Julia Roberts dated Jason Patric briefly in 1991.
- Julia Roberts dated Liam Neeson in 1987.
- Julia Roberts dated Kiefer Sutherland in 1989.
- Julia Roberts dated Dylan McDermott in 1988.
- Julia Roberts dated Matthew Perry.
- Julia Roberts married Lyle Lovett in 1993. They divorced in 1995, after just two years.
- Julia Roberts dated Ethan Hawke in 1995.
- Julia Roberts dated Benjamin Bratt in 1998.
- Julia Roberts dated Daniel Moder in 2002. They got married the same year.
About Julia Roberts’ relationship with Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland (born Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland) is a British-Canadian actor, director, singer and film producer. He is popularly known for his portrayal of “Jack Bauer” in the television drama series “24.” Kiefer Sutherland was born on December 21, 1966, in Paddington, London, England and is currently 55 years old.
Julia Roberts and Kiefer Sutherland met on the set of the 1990 film, “Flatliners”. The two dated for less than a year before announcing their engagement. Sutherland and Roberts were set to get married on June 14, 1991. The wedding was supposed to take place at Time Century Fox’s sound stage with about 150 people in attendance.
However, Julia Roberts called off the wedding three days earlier and fled to Ireland with Sutherland’s best friend, Jason Patric. Despite this, Kiefer Sutherland later called Julia Roberts an extraordinary person and always had nice things to say about her.
In a 2016 interview, Kiefer Sutherland said:
“This wedding that was supposed to be something between the two of us became something so big, and then, in the middle of that, I think she had courage. It wasn’t what she wanted to do in the end, and I think it took a lot of courage, in amongst all of that other stuff, to be able to say,’ I can’t do this.'”
About Julia Roberts’ relationship with Jason Patric
Jason Patric (born John Anthony Miller III) is an American actor. He was born on June 17, 1966, in New York and is currently 56 years old. He is popularly known for his portrayal of “Coach Wilkes” in the 2020 movie, “Runt.”
Jason Patric started dating Julia Roberts days after she called off her wedding to Kiefer Sutherland. The incident was quite controversial at the time, mostly because Jason Patric and Kiefer Sutherland were best friends at the time. When Kiefer Sutherland was asked if he ever forgave Jason Patric for what he did, Sutherland replied that it didn’t matter.
Addressing the controversy, Jason Patric said:
“The large stuff being reported by the press, being invited to the wedding and taking off with the bride, that’s all bullshit. Kiefer’s specific relationship, what they were at the time, that’s theirs.”
Despite their Romeo and Juliet-like love story, Julia Roberts’ relationship with Jason Patric did not last. The love birds broke up in 1992, after barely a year of dating. It was said that the strong interference of the press played a role in their separation.
About Julia Roberts’ marriage to Lyle Lovett
Lyle Lovett (born Lyle Pearce Lovett) is an American singer, actor, songwriter and record producer. He was born on November 1, 1957, in Houston, Texas, the United States but is originally from Klein, Texas. As of November 2022, Lyle Lovett is 65 years old.
Julia Roberts met Lyle Lovett on the set of “The Player.” They dated briefly for three weeks before eloping and getting married in June 1993 in Marion, Indiana, the United States. Sadly, the couple called it quits in March 1995, stating that the split was caused by their highly demanding careers. However, they remained good friends afterwards.
About Julia Roberts’ marriage to Daniel Moder
Daniel Moder (born Daniel Richard Moder) is an American cinematographer well known for his work in movies like “The Normal Heart” and “The Mexican.” Daniel Moder was born on January 31, 1969, in Los Angeles, California, the United States and is currently 53 years old.
Daniel Moder and Julia Roberts met on the set of the 2000 movie, “The Mexican.” At the time, Julia Roberts was dating Benjamin Bratt and Moder was married to make-up artist Vera Steimberg. Moder and Steimberg’s divorce was finalized in 2002. Moder and Roberts got married in July 2002, not long after Moder’s divorce was finalized.
They welcomed twins in 2004 and another child in 2007. They also worked together on the movie, “The Normal Heart”. About working with her husband, Julia Roberts:
“It was amazing. It was so great. He’s my favourite person on the planet, so I love spending time with him and I love his work ethic. His point of view is really valuable to me.”
In 2022, Daniel Moder and Julia Roberts celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.
About Julia Roberts’ kids
As of November 2022, Julia Roberts has three children from her marriage to Daniel Moder – a set of twins and another son.
Speaking about motherhood, Julia Roberts said:
“The life that I have built with my husband and the life that we’ve built with our children, that’s the best stuff. To come home at the end of the day, triumphantly, to them.”
List of Julia Roberts’ children
- Hazel Moder
- Phinnaeus Moder
- Henry Moder
a. Hazel and Phinnaeus Moder
Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus Moder are Julia Roberts’ first twin children. They were born on November 28, 2004, in Los Angeles, California, United States to Julia Roberts and her husband Daniel Moder. The twins are currently 17 years old.
b. Henry Moder
Henry Moder was born in 2007 to Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder. He is currently 14 years old.
