That broad smile, that gloriously curly hair, that eternal air of optimism—Julia Roberts has always been an exuberant screen presence, and whether she’s playing a conniving food critic, an outspoken activist, or a loose-lipped, ’70s-era political insider, she’s also, always, instantly recognizable. To many, she’ll forever be the rom-com queen of the ’90s—rolling out a bevy of frothy, feel-good instant classics—but in recent years, she’s also proved herself to be a formidable character actor, navigating tense thrillers as effortlessly as she does heartwarming family dramas. Here, we look back at her best performances from the last three decades.
Pretty Woman (1990)
Photo: Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
It’s impossible to imagine anyone other than Roberts playing the glorious, gregarious redhead Vivian Ward who enchants Richard Gere’s stuffy corporate raider in Garry Marshall’s steamy romance. She emerged from it a household name, Hollywood heavyweight, and verified fashion icon, with an Oscar nomination to boot.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection
