Julia Roberts Reflects on Her Role in Notting Hill
Julia Roberts, now 58, nearly turned down her iconic role in the beloved romantic comedy, Notting Hill. Initially, she found the concept “very stupid” and questioned how such a plot could be engaging.
“I still recall when my agent first mentioned ‘Notting Hill.’ I thought, ‘This might be the silliest idea I’ve ever heard for a movie. I’ll play a massive movie star, but what’s actually going to happen? It just sounds absurd,'” she shared during a recent interview.
However, after reading the script, her perspective shifted. “I found it so fascinating and interesting. It was really something special,” she added.
Despite her curiosity, Roberts was not fully committed. She had a meeting scheduled with screenwriter Richard Curtis, producer Duncan Kenworthy, and director Roger Michell, but was still leaning towards saying no.
“I thought, ‘This isn’t going to work out. We’ll probably pass on this film,'” she recalled. But the dynamics of their conversation surprised her. “They were such charming, kind, funny people. I began to think, ‘Wow, maybe this is going to happen after all.'”
Roberts later reflected fondly on the filming experience. “It was perfectly cast, all my friends were in it, and we had a wonderful time. Roger really knew how to make the movie successful at every turn,” she explained, reminiscing about the moments they shared.
As of May 2024, Notting Hill celebrated its 25th anniversary, cementing its status as a classic in romantic comedy history.
Before Notting Hill, Roberts had already made her mark in films like Steel Magnolias and Pretty Woman. She later starred in hits such as Runaway Bride and Erin Brockovich, the latter of which earned her an Academy Award and a BAFTA.
