Julia Roberts Alluded To Her Difficult Reputation And Admitted She Holds Back From Being 'Too Friendly' On Movie Sets

Stephanie Soteriou / BuzzFeed
·4 min read
During the early years of her career, Julia Roberts had a reputation for being a little bit difficult to work with.
During the early years of her career, Julia Roberts had a reputation for being a little bit difficult to work with.

Antony Jones / UK Press via Getty Images

During the early years of her career, Julia Roberts had a reputation for being a little bit difficult to work with.

The star famously clashed with director Steven Spielberg during the filming of
The star famously clashed with director Steven Spielberg during the filming of

Murray Close via Getty Images

The star famously clashed with director Steven Spielberg during the filming of "Hook" in 1991, where Roberts played Tinkerbell. It was later claimed that Roberts was referred to as “Tinkerhell” on the set.

When asked about this rumor in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that same year, Roberts said she had “never heard” the nickname. But she didn’t deny that she may have rubbed people the wrong way on set, adding, “But I'm a normal person. I mean, if I sit in my trailer for six hours doing nothing, I'm going to say, 'What the fuck is going on?’”
When asked about this rumor in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that same year, Roberts said she had “never heard” the nickname. But she didn’t deny that she may have rubbed people the wrong way on set, adding, “But I'm a normal person. I mean, if I sit in my trailer for six hours doing nothing, I'm going to say, 'What the fuck is going on?’”

Murray Close via Getty Images

When asked about this rumor in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that same year, Roberts said she had “never heard” the nickname. But she didn’t deny that she may have rubbed people the wrong way on set, adding, “But I'm a normal person. I mean, if I sit in my trailer for six hours doing nothing, I'm going to say, 'What the fuck is going on?’”

Spielberg also fueled the fire during an interview on
Spielberg also fueled the fire during an interview on

Leon Bennett / WireImage

Spielberg also fueled the fire during an interview on "60 Minutes," where he said, “It was not a great time for Julia and I to be working together.” When he was asked if he would ever work with her again, he retorted, “This is a '60 Minutes' question, isn’t it?”

After the interview aired, Roberts told Vanity Fair, “I saw that, and my eyes popped out of my head. I couldn't believe that this person that I knew and trusted was actually hesitating to come to my defense.
After the interview aired, Roberts told Vanity Fair, “I saw that, and my eyes popped out of my head. I couldn't believe that this person that I knew and trusted was actually hesitating to come to my defense.

Ron Galella Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

After the interview aired, Roberts told Vanity Fair, “I saw that, and my eyes popped out of my head. I couldn't believe that this person that I knew and trusted was actually hesitating to come to my defense."

But the drama didn’t stop with Spielberg. In 1994, Roberts admitted to not getting along with her
But the drama didn’t stop with Spielberg. In 1994, Roberts admitted to not getting along with her

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

But the drama didn’t stop with Spielberg. In 1994, Roberts admitted to not getting along with her "I Love Trouble" costar Nick Nolte. Since then, it has been reported that she has clashed with everybody from Hugh Grant to Meryl Streep.

And in a new interview with director Richard Curtis for British Vogue, Roberts addressed the conscious decision she made not to be “too friendly” on movie sets.
And in a new interview with director Richard Curtis for British Vogue, Roberts addressed the conscious decision she made not to be “too friendly” on movie sets.

Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images for InStyle

And in a new interview with director Richard Curtis for British Vogue, Roberts addressed the conscious decision she made not to be “too friendly” on movie sets.

Roberts and Curtis worked together on the 1999 rom-com
Roberts and Curtis worked together on the 1999 rom-com

Antony Jones / UK Press via Getty Images

Roberts and Curtis worked together on the 1999 rom-com "Notting Hill" and have remained good friends ever since. But partway through the chat, Curtis admitted that he was “scared of” Roberts when they first met.

The comment was triggered when Roberts told the director that they “have better, more fun conversations now than we had 25 years ago.” In response, Curtis said, “I was scared of you then. Do you remember what you said to me on the final week of Notting Hill?”
The comment was triggered when Roberts told the director that they “have better, more fun conversations now than we had 25 years ago.” In response, Curtis said, “I was scared of you then. Do you remember what you said to me on the final week of Notting Hill?”

J. Vespa / WireImage

The comment was triggered when Roberts told the director that they “have better, more fun conversations now than we had 25 years ago.” In response, Curtis said, “I was scared of you then. Do you remember what you said to me on the final week of Notting Hill?”

He continued, “You said you have to be careful on movies, careful you’re not too friendly.”
He continued, “You said you have to be careful on movies, careful you’re not too friendly.”

Arnaldo Magnani / Getty Images

He continued, “You said you have to be careful on movies, careful you’re not too friendly.”

While Roberts didn’t appear to remember this conversation, she didn’t deny it either, and asked Curtis if she’d said at the time why that was. He replied, “Because you said someone will always slightly take advantage of it. That someone will always suddenly ask you to meet their mom and come to dinner and everything.”
While Roberts didn’t appear to remember this conversation, she didn’t deny it either, and asked Curtis if she’d said at the time why that was. He replied, “Because you said someone will always slightly take advantage of it. That someone will always suddenly ask you to meet their mom and come to dinner and everything.”

Ronald Siemoneit / Sygma via Getty Images

While Roberts didn’t appear to remember this conversation, she didn’t deny it either, and asked Curtis if she’d said at the time why that was. He replied, “Because you said someone will always slightly take advantage of it. That someone will always suddenly ask you to meet their mom and come to dinner and everything.”

“You just felt you had to focus on your job,” Curtis added before asking, “Do you still sometimes feel that you have to hold back? Because people are reacting to you not as a person but as a famous person?”
“You just felt you had to focus on your job,” Curtis added before asking, “Do you still sometimes feel that you have to hold back? Because people are reacting to you not as a person but as a famous person?”

Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic Inc.

“You just felt you had to focus on your job,” Curtis added before asking, “Do you still sometimes feel that you have to hold back? Because people are reacting to you not as a person but as a famous person?”

Roberts acknowledged that the situation can be “tricky,” explaining, “I feel I sometimes have to hold back because there’s too many question marks over what the space will expand into.”
Roberts acknowledged that the situation can be “tricky,” explaining, “I feel I sometimes have to hold back because there’s too many question marks over what the space will expand into.”

James Devaney / GC Images

Roberts acknowledged that the situation can be “tricky,” explaining, “I feel I sometimes have to hold back because there’s too many question marks over what the space will expand into.”

She shared, “And sometimes people are so familiar with me. I’ll say, ‘Hi!’ ‘Oh, my god, hi!’ I have hugged, warmly, total strangers.”
She shared, “And sometimes people are so familiar with me. I’ll say, ‘Hi!’ ‘Oh, my god, hi!’ I have hugged, warmly, total strangers.”

China News Service / China News Service via Getty Images

She shared, “And sometimes people are so familiar with me. I’ll say, ‘Hi!’ ‘Oh, my god, hi!’ I have hugged, warmly, total strangers.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Roberts acknowledged that because of her personality, she can sometimes come across as “really harsh” — but she insisted that she never intends to hurt people’s feelings.
Elsewhere in the interview, Roberts acknowledged that because of her personality, she can sometimes come across as “really harsh” — but she insisted that she never intends to hurt people’s feelings.

James Devaney / WireImage

Elsewhere in the interview, Roberts acknowledged that because of her personality, she can sometimes come across as “really harsh” — but she insisted that she never intends to hurt people’s feelings.

“I think I speak very plainly,” she said. “That’s kind of how I see myself. I’m very forthright. There are a lot of personalities in the world that don’t accept that easily, and it can seem really harsh, even if I feel like I’m just being honest about something and just saying this is how I see it. I never am trying to be unkind.”
“I think I speak very plainly,” she said. “That’s kind of how I see myself. I’m very forthright. There are a lot of personalities in the world that don’t accept that easily, and it can seem really harsh, even if I feel like I’m just being honest about something and just saying this is how I see it. I never am trying to be unkind.”

Stephane Cardinale — Corbis / Corbis via Getty Images

“I think I speak very plainly,” she said. “That’s kind of how I see myself. I’m very forthright. There are a lot of personalities in the world that don’t accept that easily, and it can seem really harsh, even if I feel like I’m just being honest about something and just saying this is how I see it. I never am trying to be unkind.”

And part of Roberts' frankness was reflected in the making of
And part of Roberts' frankness was reflected in the making of

Comic Relief / Comic Relief via Getty Images

And part of Roberts' frankness was reflected in the making of "Notting Hill," with Curtis revealing in the interview that Roberts made him change part of the script in hopes of increasing the value of subsequent movie offers she received.

In case you didn’t know, Roberts plays a world-famous Hollywood actor called Anna Scott in the film, and at one point the character is asked, “Last film you did, what did you get paid?”
In case you didn’t know, Roberts plays a world-famous Hollywood actor called Anna Scott in the film, and at one point the character is asked, “Last film you did, what did you get paid?”

Working Title

In case you didn’t know, Roberts plays a world-famous Hollywood actor called Anna Scott in the film, and at one point the character is asked, “Last film you did, what did you get paid?”

Anna says, “$15 million.” In her conversation with Curtis, Roberts said that he initially “lowballed” her character, with Curtis revealing in response, “I lowballed you, but you insisted on me changing the script so that your price for your next movie would go up.”
Anna says, “$15 million.” In her conversation with Curtis, Roberts said that he initially “lowballed” her character, with Curtis revealing in response, “I lowballed you, but you insisted on me changing the script so that your price for your next movie would go up.”

Steve Granitz / WireImage

Anna says, “$15 million.” In her conversation with Curtis, Roberts said that he initially “lowballed” her character, with Curtis revealing in response, “I lowballed you, but you insisted on me changing the script so that your price for your next movie would go up.”

And Roberts proudly owned this savvy business move, simply stating, “Because I am a feminist.”
And Roberts proudly owned this savvy business move, simply stating, “Because I am a feminist.”

Bravo via Getty Images

And Roberts proudly owned this savvy business move, simply stating, “Because I am a feminist.”

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories