Julia Roberts marked the 57th birthday of her husband, Danny Moder, with a heartfelt public display of affection on January 31. The actress posted a warm photograph of her embracing Moder, celebrating their enduring relationship and the milestone occasion.
Warm Birthday Wishes from Close Friends
Alongside the intimate image, Roberts wrote a lively caption expressing her fondness and excitement for the day. Among those celebrating Moder’s birthday were notable friends like Rita Wilson, who commented,
Happy Birthday!!!!!!❤️❤️❤️love to all Moders!!!!
and Alexandra Wentworth, who added,
Happy Birthday to the great Danny Moder!
The Story Behind Their Long-Lasting Marriage
The couple is approaching their 24th wedding anniversary this July. Roberts and Moder first crossed paths on the film set of the 2001 comedy “The Mexican,” where Moder served as a cameraman. Both were involved in separate relationships at that time but reconnected later when single and began dating. The pair officially tied the knot on July 4, 2002, at Roberts’ ranch in Taos, New Mexico.
Together, they are raising three children: twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, who are 21, and their youngest, Henry, 18. Roberts’ previous marriage was to singer Lyle Lovett, lasting two years, and she also had notable relationships with actors Kiefer Sutherland and Matthew Perry before her marriage to Moder.
Julia Roberts on Marriage and Family Life
Roberts frequently highlights her marriage and children as key sources of her happiness and fulfillment. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, when asked about what brings her joy, she responded without hesitation, naming her husband. She said,
Never changes. Never changes. Sometimes more. Sometimes medium.
The Oscar-winning actress has described motherhood and being a wife as her “full-time job.” Speaking to CBS News in 2022, she emphasized that while acting is her dream come true, it is not her only one. Roberts explained,
It isn’t rainbows and kittens every day, but it does bring me a lot of joy,
adding,
It’s just never consumed me, being an actor. It is my dream come true, but it is not my only dream come true. 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.
Maintaining Intimacy Through Handwritten Notes
One method Roberts and Moder have used to nurture their relationship is exchanging handwritten letters. During a 2022 CBS interview, Roberts revealed,
[Writing handwritten notes is] something Danny and I have always done,
and shared,
The first letter he ever wrote me, which was seven pages long, I still have it tucked away. One day I’ll show it to [my daughter] Hazel and say, ‘That’s what you’re looking for.’
Challenges and Career Focus Amid Family Changes
In recent years, Roberts and Moder have navigated the emotional adjustments of their eldest children leaving home for college, a transition referred to as a “hard time.” Despite this, Roberts has found renewed energy by refocusing on her acting career. An insider told Us Weekly,
Julia’s in one of the most bittersweet times in her life right now,
and noted her renewed enthusiasm for her work.
The same source commented on Roberts’ selective approach to roles, saying,
Julia has long had the option to pick whatever role she wants and work with whomever she wants, so she’s been having fun with that,
and added,
She was turning down films so that she wasn’t away from her family for huge periods of time.
Upcoming Projects and Future Prospects
Looking ahead, Roberts is set to star in a 2027 thriller titled “Panic Carefully,” alongside Elizabeth Olsen and Eddie Redmayne. Written and directed by Sam Esmail, the project is still under wraps but follows Roberts’ previous collaborations with Esmail on the Prime Video political thriller “Homecoming” and the 2024 drama “Leave the World Behind.”
Roberts’ enduring commitment to her family, combined with her selective career choices, illustrates how she balances personal happiness with professional ambition, continuing to find joy in both realms.
