If you’ve spent any time scrolling through the latest red carpet galleries lately, you probably stopped dead in your tracks when you saw the Julia Roberts recent photos from the 2026 Golden Globes. Honestly, it was a moment.
At 58, Julia isn't just "still got it"—she’s basically rewriting the playbook on how a Hollywood icon ages without losing that chaotic, infectious energy we fell in love with in the 90s. The internet is currently obsessed with her look at the Beverly Hilton on January 11, and for good reason. It wasn’t just the dress, which was a plunging black Giorgio Armani Privé masterpiece, by the way. It was the vibe.
The Strawberry Pendant and That Blonde Hair
Okay, let's talk about the hair first. Most people are used to Julia being a brunette or maybe having those honey-colored highlights she rocked for years. But for the 2026 awards season, she went nearly platinum. It’s her lightest look in decades, maybe ever. She kept the roots a bit darker—very "low-maintenance chic"—but the rest was a bright, golden blonde that honestly made her look like she just stepped off a yacht in Amalfi.
Then there was the jewelry. Most A-listers go for standard diamonds or maybe some archival emeralds. Not Julia. She showed up wearing a quirky, statement-making strawberry-shaped pendant necklace. It was weird. It was playful. It was perfectly her. It’s that specific brand of "I’m an Oscar winner but I also don't take this too seriously" that makes her so relatable even when she's wearing a custom gown that costs more than a mid-sized sedan.
What Really Happened on the Red Carpet
You might have seen the clips floating around on TikTok of her looking slightly distracted during an interview with Mario Lopez. It turns out, Julia Roberts is a massive San Francisco 49ers fan. While she was supposed to be talking about her nomination for After the Hunt, she was actually caught on camera watching the 49ers-Eagles game on a monitor behind the hosts.
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She literally dropped an "Oh s—t" when she saw the score.
It’s these unscripted moments that make the Julia Roberts recent photos feel so different from the typical, sterile celebrity content we get. She was there with her husband, Danny Moder, in a rare public date night, and the two of them looked genuinely happy. No forced poses, just a couple of decades into marriage, hanging out at a party where everyone happened to be wearing velvet and silk.
The Standing Ovation Nobody Expected
One of the most viral moments from the night happened when Julia walked on stage to present the award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Despite losing her own category (Best Actress in a Drama) to Jessie Buckley earlier in the night, the room went absolutely wild for her.
She got a full standing ovation.
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Instead of doing the "humble actress" bit where you look at the floor and blush, Julia leaned into it. She started gesturing to the people in the back who hadn't stood up yet, shouting, "Everybody! Let’s go! In the back! Come on!" She later joked that the ego boost would make her "impossible for at least a week."
Why After the Hunt is Changing the Conversation
If you haven't seen the movie yet, it’s currently streaming on Prime Video. Directed by Luca Guadagnino (the guy who did Challengers and Call Me By Your Name), it’s a psychological thriller that pits Julia against Ayo Edebiri.
People have had a lot to say about it. The critics were actually kind of split, with the movie sitting at a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, but Julia’s performance as Alma Olsson, a college professor caught in a campus scandal, is being called some of her best work in years. It’s a darker, more complex role than the "America's Sweetheart" characters we're used to.
The Evolution of the Julia Roberts Style
If you look back at the Julia Roberts recent photos and compare them to her 1990 Golden Globes look—you know, the oversized gray suit with the floral tie—you can see the thread. She has always been a fan of Giorgio Armani. In fact, after Giorgio Armani passed away in late 2025, her choice to wear the brand at the 2026 Globes was a deliberate tribute to their long friendship.
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She’s moving away from the "perfectly polished" look and embracing something a bit more lived-in. Her makeup at the Globes was rosy, fresh, and didn't try to hide her laugh lines. It’s a refreshing change in an era of heavy filters and "prejuvenation" procedures.
What You Can Learn from Her 2026 Era
There is actually a lot of practical stuff we can take away from Julia's recent appearances, whether you care about the red carpet or not.
- Embrace the "Pre-Game": Before the Globes, she posted a hilarious photo on Instagram wearing a sheet mask over a lip mask while wearing her glasses. The lesson? Don't be afraid to show the "ugly" parts of the process.
- The Power of a "Signature": She has stuck with Armani for over 30 years. Finding what works for you and staying loyal to it creates a timeless brand.
- Humor over Ego: Handling a standing ovation with a joke rather than a tearful speech is why people still love her after four decades in the business.
If you’re looking for the high-res shots of the night, keep an eye out for the photos where she’s laughing with Teyana Taylor. Teyana actually started crying when she met Julia, calling her a "superhero." It’s a reminder that even for other celebrities, Julia Roberts is still the ultimate movie star.
Next Steps for Fans:
Go check out After the Hunt on Prime Video to see the performance that earned her that 11th Golden Globe nomination. If you're looking for style inspiration, keep an eye on how she's styling her new honey-blonde hair—it's likely going to be the biggest salon trend of the spring. Finally, if you want to keep up with her more candid side, her Instagram (@juliaroberts) is where she drops the "real" photos that don't always make it to the Getty Images wire.