You’ve seen the side-by-side photos. You’ve probably even paused Ginny & Georgia to Google it. It's that wide, toothy grin and those expressive, slightly mischievous eyes. The internet is absolutely convinced that Brianne Howey and Julia Roberts are long-lost relatives.
But are they?
Honestly, the short answer is no. They aren’t related. Not even a little bit. Brianne Howey was born in Pasadena, California, and has four younger siblings. Julia Roberts is, well, Julia Roberts—Hollywood royalty from Georgia (the state, not the character). Despite the lack of a shared family tree, the "Brianne Howey and Julia Roberts" connection is one of those pop culture comparisons that just won't die.
And for good reason.
The Pretty Woman Parallel
The comparison didn't just happen by accident. In the very first episode of Ginny & Georgia, there’s a moment where Georgia Miller (Howey) leans against a car, wearing a look that is a dead ringer for Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.
Brianne Howey has actually talked about this. In interviews, she’s acknowledged that the show creators were leaning into that "Julia Roberts moment." It was a deliberate stylistic choice. They wanted Georgia to have that same irresistible, magnetic, yet slightly dangerous charm that Roberts brought to her iconic 90s roles.
It worked.
People didn't just see the clothes; they saw the face. That "doe-eyed" look combined with a smile that seems to take up half her face is a Roberts trademark. When Howey smiles, her eyes crinkle in that exact same way. It’s a specific type of "commercial appeal"—approachable, bubbly, but with a sharp edge underneath.
Why We Can't Stop Comparing Them
We love a doppelgänger. It’s human nature to categorize people by who they remind us of.
- The Bone Structure: Both actresses have high cheekbones and a very defined jawline.
- The "Big" Features: They both have large, expressive features—eyes, nose, and mouth—that look even larger because they have relatively small, heart-shaped faces.
- The Energy: This is the big one. Julia Roberts became a star because she felt like your best friend and a movie star at the same time. Brianne Howey has that same "vibe." She's "vixen" meets "Barbie" meets "girl next door."
Some fans on Reddit have even gone as far as to say Howey looks like a mix of Julia Roberts and her niece, Emma Roberts. Interestingly, Howey actually had a tiny role in Scream Queens, the show that made Emma Roberts a household name for a new generation. They shared the screen, and yet the "related" rumors didn't really explode until Ginny & Georgia hit Netflix.
More Than Just a Lookalike
It’s easy to dismiss a rising star as "the next [Insert Famous Actor Here]." But Brianne Howey has spent over a decade in the industry carving out her own space.
She wasn't an overnight success.
She did the rounds. 90210, The Exorcist, Batwoman, Horrible Bosses 2. By the time she landed Georgia Miller, she had refined a very specific acting style that involves heavy "micro-expressions." While the Julia Roberts comparison gets people in the door, it’s Howey’s ability to flip from a "Pretty Woman" smile to a cold, calculating stare in half a second that keeps them watching.
Some critics have actually argued that her facial expressions are too much—that she’s "over-the-top." But that’s the point of her character. Georgia is a woman playing a role within a role. She’s using that Julia Roberts-esque charm as a weapon.
The Reality of Hollywood "Twins"
Let’s be real: Hollywood has a "type."
Casting directors often look for familiar archetypes. If you look at the history of leading ladies, there’s often a passing of the torch. Before Julia, there were others. After Brianne, there will be someone else.
But for now, the Brianne Howey and Julia Roberts comparison is the one that sticks because it’s so visually jarring. It’s not just the hair (though Howey's blonde vs. Roberts' classic auburn does differentiate them). It’s the sheer symmetry.
What You Should Know Next
If you’re a fan of this specific "look" or the acting style both women share, here is how you can actually dive deeper into their work without getting lost in the "are they related" rabbit hole:
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- Watch Brianne in The Exorcist (TV Series): You’ll see a much darker, less "sunny" version of her that proves she isn't just a carbon copy of a rom-com queen.
- Compare the "Micro-Expressions": Watch Erin Brockovich and then a heavy scene in Ginny & Georgia Season 2. Notice how both actresses use their mouths—not just for smiling, but for conveying tension.
- Check out Nikki Roumel: If you want to see a real masterclass in lookalike casting, look at the actress who plays "Young Georgia." While the internet compares Brianne to Julia, the casting of Nikki Roumel to play a younger Brianne is arguably even more impressive.
The "relationship" between Brianne Howey and Julia Roberts is purely spiritual. They share a screen presence that is rare—the ability to be simultaneously terrifying and lovable. You don't need a DNA test to see that they both know exactly how to hold an audience's attention.
To keep up with Brianne Howey's career, you can follow her official social media channels, as she frequently shares behind-the-scenes insights into her filming process and her life in California, which remains her home base today.