You know the one. Maybe it’s the flash of that impossibly wide smile, or that specific shade of "Cinderella" red from the opera scene in Pretty Woman. Or perhaps you’re thinking of the grainy, chaotic paparazzi shot of her walking barefoot through the streets of Cannes.
The thing is, when people search for a picture of Julia Roberts, they aren’t just looking for a celebrity headshot. They’re looking for a vibe. They’re looking for a moment in time where a single frame managed to break the internet before the internet was even a thing. Honestly, Julia has this weird, magical ability to make a mistake look like a movement.
The Red Dress That Almost Wasn't
Take the most famous picture of Julia Roberts in cinematic history: Vivian Ward at the opera. That scarlet, off-the-shoulder gown is basically the blueprint for "transformation" scenes in movies. But here’s the kicker—the studio absolutely hated the idea of her wearing red.
Marilyn Vance, the costume designer, had to fight tooth and nail for that dress. The higher-ups at Disney wanted her in black. They thought red would clash with Julia’s hair (which, let’s be real, is a wild take). Vance ended up creating three different versions in different colors and forced Julia to do screen tests in all of them until everyone finally admitted that red was the only choice.
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And that jewelry box scene? Total accident. Richard Gere snapping the box shut was an unscripted prank meant for the gag reel. Julia’s laugh—the one captured in that iconic still—is 100% genuine. It wasn't "acting." It was just a 22-year-old girl getting her fingers pinched and finding it hilarious.
Why That 1999 Premiere Photo Still Sparks Debates
Fast forward to 1999. The Notting Hill premiere in London. Julia waves to the crowd, and suddenly, the tabloid world loses its mind. Why? Because she had visible armpit hair.
For years, people called it a "feminist manifesto" or a "calculated political statement." It’s often cited in gender studies as this pivotal moment of rebellion. But if you ask Julia? She just forgot.
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Kinda refreshing, isn't it?
She admitted years later on Busy Tonight that she simply hadn't calculated the sleeve length versus the waving. She wasn't trying to change the world; she was just being a human who didn't feel like shaving that day. It’s funny how a single picture of Julia Roberts can be interpreted as a revolutionary act when it was really just a laundry/grooming oversight.
The Oversized Suit: A Masterclass in Not Caring
In 1990, she showed up to the Golden Globes in a men’s Armani suit. It was charcoal gray, way too big, and paired with a floral tie. At the time, actresses were expected to look like prom queens—lots of sequins, lots of "look at me" glamour.
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Julia didn't hire a stylist for that. She literally went to a store, bought it off the rack in the men's department because she liked the fit, and did her own hair. That picture of Julia Roberts holding her award for Steel Magnolias is now pinned on every "Old Money" and "90s Aesthetic" mood board on Pinterest. It’s the ultimate proof that confidence is the only accessory that actually matters.
A Few Things You Probably Missed in Iconic Photos:
- The Pretty Woman Poster: Take a close look at the movie poster. That’s not actually Julia’s body. Her head was superimposed onto a body double named Shelley Michelle.
- The Barefoot Rebellion: In 2016, she ditched her heels on the Cannes red carpet. Most people thought she was protesting the festival’s strict "heels only" policy for women. In reality, she just found the stairs too hard to climb in stilettos.
- The "3,000" Script: Before it was Pretty Woman, the movie was a dark drama called 3,000. There’s a deleted photo/scene where the original ending happened: Edward throws Vivian out of the car and tosses the money on her in the dirt.
Why We’re Still Looking
Why are we still obsessed with a picture of Julia Roberts from thirty years ago? It’s because she never looked like she was trying too hard.
In a world of filtered Instagram faces and hyper-curated "candid" shots, Julia’s most famous photos feel... messy. They feel real. Whether she’s wearing a suit three sizes too big or laughing so hard her face crinkles, she’s always unapologetically herself.
If you're trying to recreate that "Julia look" or find the best archival prints, you sort of have to embrace the imperfections. Don't look for the airbrushed studio portraits. Look for the photos where she’s mid-laugh, barefoot, or wearing something she clearly picked out herself.
Next steps for the fans: If you’re a collector or a fan of 90s cinema history, your best bet is to look into the Marilyn Vance costume archives or the Ron Galella collection. Galella was the "King of Paparazzi," and his candid shots of Julia in the early 90s—often in oversized blazers and Levi’s—are arguably better than any professional photoshoot she ever did. They capture the transition from a Georgia girl to the biggest star on the planet.