Julia Roberts recently discussed her true feelings upon first learning about the film Notting Hill, offering insight into her unexpected reaction to the project that would become a global hit. In a conversation with Deadline, Roberts revealed her doubts and hesitation over taking the lead role, stressing her Julia Roberts Notting Hill reaction before ultimately joining the production.
The 1999 movie Notting Hill, set in London, tells the story of a celebrated American actress who unexpectedly finds romance with a modest British bookstore owner. The screenplay was crafted by Richard Curtis and directed by Roger Michell, and the romantic comedy ended up grossing $364 million worldwide, confirming Roberts’ status as a leading star of 1990s cinema. Despite this massive success, she was initially skeptical about the plot and her potential involvement.
“I thought, ‘Well, that sounds like the dumbest idea of any movie I could ever do. I’m going to play the world’s biggest movie star and I do what? And then what happens? This sounds so f****** stupid.’”
– Julia Roberts, Actress
What Changed Julia Roberts’ Mind
Although she admitted the script was “so charming” and “so funny,” Roberts had every intention of declining the project during her first meeting with the film’s key creative minds. When she met director Roger Michell and screenwriter Richard Curtis for lunch, she initially planned to turn down the opportunity.
“No, this isn’t going to work. I’m passing on this movie.”
– Julia Roberts, Actress
However, her perspective shifted over the course of their conversation. She described being unexpectedly won over by their personalities.
“they were just so charming and sweet and funny. And I thought, ‘Wow, this is really going to happen.’”
– Julia Roberts, Actress
Reflections on Pretty Woman and Evolving Roles
In the same interview, Roberts assessed her connection to another iconic character, Vivian Ward from Pretty Woman, which first hit screens in 1990. Today, Roberts noted that she would not feel right returning to the role that helped launch her into stardom alongside Richard Gere’s Edward Lewis.
“I have too many years of the weight of the world inside of me now that I wouldn’t be able to kind of levitate in a movie like that, right?”
– Julia Roberts, Actress
She went on to discuss how her life experience has changed her approach to roles with a certain innocence, even in a character as unexpected as Vivian Ward.
“I mean, not weight of the world, like, negative, but just all the things that we learn, all the things that we put in our pockets along the lane. It would be impossible to play someone who was really innocent, in a way. I mean, it’s a funny thing to say about a hooker, but I do think that there was an innocence to her, a kind of … I guess it’s just being young.”
– Julia Roberts, Actress
Enduring Impact of Notting Hill
Julia Roberts’ honest Julia Roberts Notting Hill reaction highlights just how unpredictable film success can be, even for an experienced star and for filmmakers like Roger Michell and Richard Curtis. The actress’ change of heart proves key decisions can hinge on personal interactions and chemistry with creators, not just scripts. As Notting Hill continues to be celebrated among romantic comedies, Roberts’ candid reflections cast new light on the collaborative process that shapes enduring cinema.
