Everyone thinks they know Julia Roberts. We know the laugh—that wide, toothy, "America’s Sweetheart" grin that basically defined the '90s. We know the Oscars, the iconic red dresses, and the rom-com royalty status. But when you look at her life away from the flashing bulbs, it’s not all sunshine and Notting Hill vibes. Families are messy, right? Even when they’re Hollywood families.
Actually, especially when they’re Hollywood families.
When people search for Julia Roberts and sister, they usually find themselves looking at two very different stories. One is about Lisa Roberts Gillan, the supportive older sister who has been Julia’s rock for decades. The other is a much darker, tragic story about their half-sister, Nancy Motes. Honestly, it’s a lot to process. It’s a mix of unconditional love and deep, public heartbreak.
Who is Lisa Roberts Gillan?
Lisa is Julia’s older sister, and she’s probably the most stable presence in the actress’s life. They are super close. Julia has literally gone on record calling Lisa the definition of "kindness." Back when Julia was just a teenager starting out in New York, it was Lisa who let her move into her apartment.
Imagine that. You’re a struggling actor, and your sister just opens her door and helps you navigate the chaos of the city. That bond never broke. Today, they don’t just hang out; they work together. Lisa is a producer and actress in her own right. She’s worked on movies like Eat Pray Love and Mona Lisa Smile. They even run a production company together called Red Om Films.
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The name "Red Om" is actually a cute family nod—it’s "Moder" (Julia’s husband’s last name) spelled backward. It’s kind of refreshing to see a celebrity relationship that isn't built on competition or tabloid drama. They actually live in the same building in New York. That's a level of sibling closeness most of us can't even manage with a shared Netflix password.
The Tragedy of Nancy Motes
Now, this is where the story takes a turn. Julia and Lisa had a younger half-sister, Nancy Motes. She was the daughter of their mother, Betty Lou, and her second husband, Michael Motes.
The relationship between Julia Roberts and sister Nancy was... complicated. That’s putting it lightly. In February 2014, Nancy was found dead in a bathtub in Los Angeles. It was a drug overdose, and the coroner later ruled it a suicide. She was only 37.
What made it so much worse was the public nature of their fallout. Before she died, Nancy had been posting some pretty intense things on Twitter. She accused Julia of being cruel and mocking her weight. She even left a five-page suicide note, and reports at the time suggested a big chunk of it was directed at Julia.
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A Family Divided by the Spotlight
It’s easy for the internet to pick sides. People see a "mean girl" narrative or a "troubled sister" narrative and run with it. But the truth is usually somewhere in the gray area.
Julia didn't say much publicly for a long time. When she finally did speak to WSJ Magazine, she described it as "just heartbreak." She talked about how there aren't words to explain what the family went through. Behind the scenes, sources said Julia had actually tried to help Nancy multiple times, including trying to get her into rehab.
It’s that classic, painful dynamic. One sister is a global superstar, and the other is struggling in her shadow. Nancy worked as a production assistant on Glee, a job Julia reportedly helped her get. But clearly, the resentment ran deeper than a job title.
Why This Matters
Why do we care about Julia Roberts and sister dynamics years later? Maybe because it makes a "perfect" star feel human. We’ve all had those family dinners where you have to bite your tongue. We’ve all had that one relative who makes things difficult.
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When you see the contrast—the unbreakable bond with Lisa versus the tragic rift with Nancy—it shows that fame doesn't fix your family. It just puts a magnifying glass over the cracks.
- Lisa Roberts Gillan remains Julia's primary collaborator and confidante.
- Red Om Films continues to produce projects, keeping the sisters' professional lives intertwined.
- The family has mostly retreated from discussing Nancy in the press, choosing to handle the grief privately.
What You Can Take Away From This
If there’s anything to learn from the saga of Julia Roberts and sister, it’s that boundaries and support are two sides of the same coin. You can be the biggest star on the planet and still feel the sting of a sibling's words.
If you’re navigating your own tricky family stuff, remember that even the people who seem to have it all are often just trying to keep it together behind closed doors. You don't owe the world an explanation for your family's private battles.
If you want to understand the Roberts family better, look into the work of Red Om Films. It’s a great example of how siblings can build something together that lasts. Sometimes, focusing on the people who do show up for you—like Lisa did for Julia—is the only way to move forward through the hard stuff.