Julia Roberts is arguably the biggest movie star on the planet, or at least she was for about two decades straight. That smile. The laugh. The $20 million paychecks. But if you look at her life over the last twenty years, the math doesn't quite add up for a typical A-lister. She basically stopped being "The Julia Roberts" right when she was at the top. Why? It all comes down to a guy named Danny Moder and three kids who, honestly, most people wouldn't recognize if they walked past them in a grocery store.
She didn't just take a break. She moved to a ranch in New Mexico. She started driving carpools. She became a "strict" mom who didn't let her kids have phones until they were practically adults. It’s a wild pivot for someone who won an Oscar while wearing a vintage Valentino gown that is now, apparently, shoved in a box under her bed waiting for her daughter to grow into it.
The Cinematographer Who Changed Everything
Most people expect a superstar to marry another superstar. Julia tried that. There was the almost-wedding to Kiefer Sutherland, the short-lived marriage to Lyle Lovett, and the high-profile romance with Benjamin Bratt. Then came The Mexican in 2000.
She wasn't looking for a leading man. She found the guy behind the camera. Danny Moder was a cameraman—a cinematographer—and the connection was, in her words, a "seismic shift." It wasn't exactly a clean start, though. He was married at the time to makeup artist Vera Steimberg, and Julia was still with Bratt. The tabloids went nuclear. Remember the "A Low Vera" T-shirt? Julia wore it in public, a pointed jab at Moder's then-wife who was reportedly hesitant to sign divorce papers. It was messy. It was human. It was very un-Hollywood.
🔗 Read more: Darius Rucker with Wife: What Really Happened and Who He’s With Now
They got married on July 4, 2002, at her ranch in Taos. No paparazzi. No massive guest list. Just a midnight ceremony where guests were told they were coming for a "Independence Day party." They’ve been together for 23 years now, which is basically a century in celebrity years. At the 2026 Golden Globes, they were spotted on a rare date night, looking just as obsessed with each other as they were two decades ago. Julia recently joked that her joy "never changes" when it comes to him. Sometimes it's more, sometimes it's "medium," but he’s always the person she wants to come home to.
Meet the "Game Changers": Hazel, Phinnaeus, and Henry
Julia and Danny have three children: twins Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus "Finn" Walter, and a younger son, Henry Daniel.
The twins were born in November 2004. Think about that for a second. Julia was filming Ocean’s Twelve while pregnant, and George Clooney was reportedly treating her like she was made of glass. Today, those "babies" are 21 years old. They’re in college, living lives that are purposefully detached from the "nepo baby" circuit.
💡 You might also like: Coby Ryan McLaughlin Nude: Separating Viral Rumors From Reality
- Hazel Moder: She’s the one who made a tiny splash at Cannes in 2021, walking the red carpet with her dad. She looked... normal. She wore a simple lace shirtdress and a ponytail. She’s the "look-alike," inheriting that famous Roberts smile, but she’s also her own person. Julia once took her to the Women’s March in D.C. because she wanted her daughter to understand her own power as a woman.
- Phinnaeus (Finn) Moder: He’s the skater. If you look at Danny’s Instagram—which is the only place you’ll really see the kids—Finn is often catching waves or on a board. He’s a redhead (a "ranga," as he calls himself) and seems to share his dad’s love for being behind the lens or in the great outdoors.
- Henry Moder: Born in June 2007, Henry is the baby of the family, though he’s now 18 and heading off to college himself. He’s a "towering wonder," according to his mom’s Instagram tributes. Like his brother, he’s big into skateboarding and extreme sports.
The "Strict" Parenting Style That Actually Worked
You’d think Julia Roberts’ house would be all glitz and "yes" people. It’s actually the opposite. Julia has been very vocal about being a "stricter" parent than most of the people in her social circle.
There was a "charging station" for phones. When you came home, the phone went in the dock. No phones at the dinner table. Ever. She and Danny made a pact: they would be a united front. You don't ask Mom for a "yes" after Dad said "no." It doesn't happen.
This structure created a "fixed world of love and safety," as she told 72 Magazine in 2025. By keeping them away from the digital noise and the Hollywood bubble, she gave them a chance to actually grow up. They didn't even really know what she did for a living for a long time. They just knew her as the lady who made the world’s best blueberry muffins and yelled at them to get enough sleep.
📖 Related: Chrissy Lampkin: Why Her Real Age is the Least Interesting Thing About Her
Life as an Empty Nester in 2026
Right now, Julia is navigating a new phase. All three kids are out of the house. The "empty nest" is a real thing, even for Oscar winners. She told Jimmy Fallon that supporting her kids' colleges has become her "entire life." She wears the school colors. She goes to the games. She’s that mom in the stands.
But don't think she's lonely. She and Danny are still famously private, splitting their time between a home in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights and their properties in Malibu and New Mexico. They’ve built a life that is remarkably stable.
What most people get wrong is the idea that she "gave up" her career. She didn't. She just realized that being a movie star is a job, but being a mother and a wife is a life. She waited until her career had matured to have kids, which gave her the financial freedom to say "no" to projects that would take her away from home for too long.
Actionable Insights for Parents
If you’re looking to channel a bit of that Roberts-Moder parenting magic, here’s the breakdown:
- Establish Tech-Free Zones: The charging station idea isn't just for celebrities. Creating a physical space where phones "sleep" ensures that family time is actually spent together.
- The United Front: Sit down with your partner and agree on the "non-negotiables." If the kids can't play one parent against the other, they find security in the boundaries.
- Prioritize Privacy: In an era of oversharing, keeping your children's milestones off public social media allows them to develop their own identities without the pressure of an audience.
Julia Roberts found her "dream come true" not in a script, but in a cinematographer from California and three kids who call her "Mama" instead of "Legend." It’s a reminder that even for the most famous woman in the world, the best stuff happens when the cameras are turned off.