Julia Roberts: Balancing a Career Reboot and Life as her Children Spread Their Wings
Julia Roberts, beloved actress and star of Leave the World Behind, embraces the next chapter of her life as her children begin to fly the nest Discover how she navigates this exciting phase, while also reinvigorating her career and cherishing her marriage to Danny Moder Don't miss out on the latest updates!
Julia Roberts has been making the rounds promoting her new Netflix movie, Leave the World Behind. During an appearance on The View on December 4, she joined in promoting hair products with the cohosts, and the next day she expressed her love for Taylor Swift on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. A few nights later, she reenacted a viral scene from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on Watch What Happens Live, taking on the role of Sutton Stracke. According to a source, it has been a while since she has been so public with a press tour and she has enjoyed it.
Since her twins, Hazel and Phinnaeus, 19, went off to college in the fall, Julia has been adjusting to a new normal. Her 16-year-old son, Henry, is still at home with her and her husband, cinematographer Danny Moder, 54. With her kids away, Julia has found herself with more free time than she has had in nearly two decades.
Julia is going through a bittersweet time in her life as she nears empty nest status. While it has been hard for the star, she is excited to fully dive back into her career. She has always had the freedom to choose her roles and work with anyone she wants, and she has been enjoying that. Despite her successful career, Julia has always been a dedicated mother, turning down roles to prioritize her family. She values the life she has built with her husband and children above all else. After taking four years off, she returned to filming with her close friend George Clooney and expressed her love for being at home and being a mom.
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Having her children leave for college was expected to be difficult for her. “I mean, it makes me a little lightheaded,” the actress expressed in 2022, while also sharing her immense excitement for them. “It’s really thrilling, and I wasn’t lucky enough to have a college experience. And so to see how it’s happening for them is really fascinating.” According to a source, “Julia is thrilled about her children being able to carve their own paths and embrace everything that life has to offer. She sees her kids developing their own identities and venturing out into the world, and she’s incredibly proud of them.”
Roberts is excited to take on more acting roles, go on trips with friends, and travel with Moder. According to the source, "Julia and Danny have much more quality time together now because the kids are so independent." After two decades together, the longtime couple is in a good place despite navigating ups and downs. On The View, she affectionately called Moder "the captain" of their family's ship, and revealed her secrets to a happy marriage: "Lots of kissing hello and goodbye is really… a critical detail to daily life."
Roberts has a strong bond with her children, according to a source. She has Henry, Hazel, Phinneaus, and her husband Moder. Daniel Moder/Instagram provided the picture. "Julia and Danny have had their arguments over the years," a source says. "During tough times, they would spend a few days or a week apart to reset and start to miss each other." Another source adds, "Ultimately, they are a great match because Danny is levelheaded and keeps Julia calm."
The second source reveals that divorce was never considered for the pair. "They had conflicting views on their preferred places to live," says the source, pointing out that Moder, an enthusiastic surfer, is "a devoted SoCal native," whereas Roberts strongly favors Northern California and San Francisco. "They've clashed on that issue but always managed to overcome the challenges."
The longtime couple Moder and Roberts are in a great place, according to a source. Roberts, with an estimated net worth of $250 million, has praised Moder for keeping her grounded. “We are so in sync,” she said on Ali Wentworth’s “Go Ask Ali” podcast, adding, "Our priorities are so aligned." Another source complimented Moder as a phenomenal father and supportive spouse, highlighting his talent and lack of need for validation despite being married to one of the biggest movie superstars of all time.
The actress and Moder will maintain their Malibu mansion as their primary residence while also intending to split their time between their estate in New Mexico and various locations in Europe. "Julia and Danny are fond of exploring different places," according to the second source. "They find joy in the little things, and Danny's passion for culture and the great outdoors has had a significant, positive impact on their relationship."
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According to a source close to Roberts, for Leave the World Behind, she desired to work alongside a top-notch cast which includes Mahershala Ali, Myha’la and Ethan Hawke. Additionally, the actress expressed interest in a sequel to her 1997 hit My Best Friend’s Wedding, which has always held a special place in her heart. She also hopes to collaborate with her former costars, particularly Rupert Everett, as Julia values working on projects that bring her joy and involve working with friends.
The actress is actively seeking out book adaptations and another project that will be as successful as Erin Brockovich, for which she won an Academy Award in 2001. According to the second source, she is constantly on the lookout for a movie that will have a significant impact on the culture. The source also mentioned that Roberts thoroughly enjoyed working on Leave the World Behind. Despite winning an Oscar, the source pointed out that Roberts' focus shifted to her children, but the next few years could bring about a resurgence in her acting career.
