While Roberts portrayed romantic characters beautifully, she soon switched to other genres. There was more than just pretty women to Roberts, and she was about to reveal a much more extensive range in her character portrayals.
Sure, the romantic roles didn’t disappear. There were romantic comedies like “Notting Hill” (1999) and “Runaway Bride” (1999). “Notting Hill” is even considered a cult classic today. She dominated the romcoms for a good portion of the 90s but is also an absolute gem in dramas such as “Eat Pray Love” (2010) and “Closer” (2004). No character was too big for her to slip into.
A Steel Fist
While "Steel Magnolias" was very successful and put her on the map as an actress of worth, shooting it was a very difficult experience for Roberts. It was her first big role, which meant nothing to Director Herbert Ross, who treated her harshly despite Roberts being an effortlessly sweet and easy actress to work with.
According to her co-star Sally Field, Ross went after her as if it was a quest for vengeance. Shirley MacLaine, another co-star, said that Roberts was often in tears and doubting her own talent. Little did young Julia know, things were about to get a lot better.
The Pretty Woman Effect
Julia's most famous role is definitely that of Vivian Ward, the streetwalker with the ultimate happy ending in "Pretty Woman" (1990). This is a real Cinderella story from beginning to end, and they couldn't make a better choice than Roberts for the lead character. This was Roberts’ ninth role played in Hollywood, and it certainly increased her rankings in the show biz sector and only catapulted her further into the world of fame.
Sharing the screen with Richard Gere, Roberts was nominated for another Academy Award, this time as Best Actress. From there, the road for numerous blockbusters and starring credits was paved.
Doing It All
Dramas and romantic comedies are just a drop in the bucket when it comes to Roberts's career. Soon enough, directors and movie producers realized that a jewel landed in Hollywood, and soon enough everyone was eager to work with her and have her star in their flicks.
She has appeared in thrillers (like "The Pelican Brief" and "Conspiracy Theory") and has even done some voice acting, lending her vocal cords to animated characters like in the film "Smurfs: The Lost Village." Some films did better than others, of course, but for the most part her work has been incredibly successful.
Finally, an Oscar!
One of the most significant peaks in Roberts's career is her portrayal of the title character in "Erin Brockovich" (2002). This was a moment every Hollywood star waits for, and for Roberts, it wasn't a long wait.
Based on a true story, her character was an unemployed single mother of three who fought to stop a mega-corporation from harming her town. This role finally turned her from an Oscar nominee to an Oscar winner as Best Actress. Not only did she win an Academy Award for her role, but the film itself got 33 wins in total, so it was a massive success for Roberts and also for the makers of the movie.