Julia Roberts, the acclaimed actress known for her iconic roles, revealed in a recent interview that she could not portray her character from the beloved film Pretty Woman today. The 1990 romantic comedy, which starred Richard Gere alongside Roberts, became a cultural phenomenon, grossing over $463 million worldwide. The film follows the story of Vivian Ward, a compassionate prostitute who falls in love with millionaire Edward Lewis.
In a conversation with Deadline, Roberts, now 58, expressed her belief that the innocence she once brought to the role would be impossible to replicate at this stage in her life. “Oh, it’s impossible,” she stated. “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.” She emphasized that while this weight is not negative, it encompasses all the experiences and lessons accumulated over the years.
Roberts described the character of Vivian as carrying a certain innocence, despite her profession. “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.” This reflection illustrates how her perspective on the character has evolved since the film’s release.
The actress also acknowledged that societal views on films can shift dramatically over time. “Well, I think anytime you have a huge passage of time and cultural shifts…” Roberts noted. She compared the changing perception of Pretty Woman to the way audiences might react to movies from the 1920s to the 1940s, highlighting the contrast between past and present cultural norms. “You would look at them now and just be like, ‘How are people saying these things, doing these things?’”
Roberts was speaking to Deadline while promoting her upcoming film, After the Hunt, set to release in 2025. In this new project, she plays a college professor embroiled in a serious accusation involving a colleague. Her performance has already garnered her a nomination for a Golden Globe for Best Actress.
As Roberts reflects on her journey from a young star in Pretty Woman to her current roles, her insights resonate with audiences who have grown alongside her. The evolution of both her career and the cultural landscape continues to shape the way we view cinema and the characters that inhabit it.
