Growing up as the daughter of the woman with the world’s most famous smile sounds like a fever dream. You’d expect the glitz, the endless designer loaners, and maybe a reality show or two. But for Hazel Moder, the daughter of Julia Roberts and Danny Moder, the reality is way more low-key. Actually, it’s basically the opposite of what you’d think. While other "nepo babies" are busy hitting every Fashion Week from Paris to Milan, Hazel is reportedly tucked away in a library in Dublin.
Yeah, you heard that right.
As of early 2026, Julia Roberts daughter Hazel now is officially a 21-year-old adult. She recently hit that milestone birthday on November 28, 2025, an event Julia marked on Instagram with a nostalgic throwback of the twins in highchairs. It’s wild to think that the little girl we rarely saw is now navigating her second year at Trinity College Dublin. She isn't studying "Influencing 101" either; she’s diving into philosophy. It’s a move that feels very "anti-Hollywood," and honestly, it’s exactly why people are so fascinated by her right now.
The Quiet Life of Hazel Moder
Julia and Danny were always super intentional about how they raised their trio—twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, and younger brother Henry. They didn't raise them in the middle of Beverly Hills. Instead, they spent a huge chunk of time at their ranch in New Mexico. It was all about dirt, horses, and not caring who was on the cover of Vogue.
Julia has been vocal about keeping her kids away from the "glaring limelight." She even mentioned in interviews that her kids didn't really grasp how famous she was for a long time. They’d ask, "Are you more famous than Taylor Swift?" (The answer, in Hazel’s world, is probably a hard no, since she's a massive Swiftie herself).
That One Red Carpet Moment
Despite the privacy, Hazel did break the internet—well, the fashion corners of it—back in 2021. She made her red carpet debut at the Cannes Film Festival. She wasn't there for her mom, though. She was supporting her dad, Danny, who was the cinematographer for the film Flag Day.
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Most 16-year-olds would have gone for a full-glam, "look at me" moment. Not Hazel. She wore:
- A pale-yellow lace shirt dress (totally vintage vibes).
- Chunky black Mary Janes.
- A messy ponytail that looked like she’d done it in the car.
It was so refreshingly normal. People couldn't stop talking about how much she looked like a 1990s-era Julia Roberts, but with a vibe that was entirely her own. She looked comfortable. She didn't look like she was trying to sell us a skincare line.
Why Julia Roberts Daughter Hazel Now Chose Ireland
So, why Dublin? Trinity College is prestigious, sure, but it’s a long way from the Malibu beaches.
Honestly, it makes sense if you look at the Roberts-Moder parenting playbook. Julia hasn't had a college experience herself, and she’s told outlets like Extra how "thrilling" it is to watch her kids have one. By choosing Ireland, Hazel gets to be just another student. In Dublin, she isn't "the daughter of an Oscar winner"; she’s just Hazel, the girl who might be late for her logic seminar.
Julia told Jimmy Fallon that she has basically made supporting her kids' colleges her "entire life." She wears the colors. She does the whole "college mom" thing. But she’s also admitted it was a bit of an adjustment becoming an empty nester now that all three are out of the house.
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"It’s all fun, honestly," Julia told Stephen Colbert. "I love hanging out with them."
The "Anti-Tech" Upbringing
One of the coolest things about Hazel is her relationship with technology. Julia and Danny were "stricter parents" when it came to the internet. They monitored what the kids saw and kept them away from the social media circus.
There's this great story Julia told The New York Times about Hazel watching the movie Stand by Me. After seeing how the kids in the movie actually talked to each other because they didn't have phones, Hazel literally handed her phone to Julia and said, "Just keep it."
She saw how screens were getting in the way of real life. That’s a level of self-awareness you don't usually see in a teenager, let alone one with every resource at her fingertips. It explains why you won't find Hazel Moder posting "Get Ready With Me" videos on TikTok. She’s too busy living a real life.
Is Hollywood in Her Future?
Look, she did have a tiny bit part in the 2016 movie Mother's Day. But don't hold your breath for a lead role in a rom-com anytime soon.
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Hazel seems much more interested in the world of ideas. Studying philosophy at a place like Trinity suggests a desire to understand the "why" of things rather than the "how many likes" of things. While she’s inherited her mom’s iconic smile and her dad’s blue eyes, she’s clearly carving out a path that is strictly her own.
What We Can Learn From Hazel's Journey
The fascination with Julia Roberts daughter Hazel now isn't just about celebrity worship. It's about seeing a "famous" kid who actually seems well-adjusted. In a world of oversharing, her privacy is her superpower.
If you’re looking to follow Hazel's lead on living a more grounded life, here are a few "Hazel-inspired" takeaways:
- Prioritize Education: Choosing a school based on the curriculum (like philosophy) rather than the "scene" can lead to way more personal growth.
- Audit Your Tech Use: If a 1980s movie makes you realize your phone is a distraction, try a "digital detox" weekend.
- Value Privacy: You don't have to post every milestone. Some things are better kept for the people actually in the room with you.
- Support Your Family: Hazel’s rare public appearances are almost always to support her dad’s work or hang out with her mom. Loyalty beats fame every time.
Hazel Moder is proof that you can be born into the brightest spotlight in the world and still choose to walk in the shade. Whether she stays in Europe or eventually finds her way back to the States, she’s doing it on her own terms. Honestly, that’s the most "pretty woman" thing she could do.
To keep up with how the rest of the family is doing during this empty-nest phase, you can check out Julia Roberts’ occasional (and very sweet) family updates on her official Instagram.