01of 2020. SHE’LL ALWAYS BE THE PRETTY WOMANAmerica’s love affair withJulia Robertsbegan when she played Viv, the hooker with a heart of gold, in the 1990 blockbuster. “Boys, girls, old, young – they all love Julia,” said director Garry Marshall.

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20. SHE’LL ALWAYS BE THE PRETTY WOMAN

20. SHE’LL ALWAYS BE THE PRETTY WOMAN

America’s love affair withJulia Robertsbegan when she played Viv, the hooker with a heart of gold, in the 1990 blockbuster. “Boys, girls, old, young – they all love Julia,” said director Garry Marshall.

02of 2019. THAT UNRULY MANETouchstone PicturesRoberts has tried a slew of dos, from a Tinkerbell pixie to tamed blonde locks, but her wild, auburn curls are her signature. “When her hair is red and long and curly,“Newsweekonce wrote, “she’s at her most delicious.”

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19. THAT UNRULY MANE

Touchstone Pictures

19. THAT UNRULY MANE

Roberts has tried a slew of dos, from a Tinkerbell pixie to tamed blonde locks, but her wild, auburn curls are her signature. “When her hair is red and long and curly,“Newsweekonce wrote, “she’s at her most delicious.”

03of 2018. THAT INFECTIOUS LAUGHWhen Richard Gere snapped the jewelry box on Roberts’s hand inPretty Woman,“he was improvising,” screenwriter J.F. Lawton toldEW, “and Julia didn’t know, so her laugh was real.”

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18. THAT INFECTIOUS LAUGH

18. THAT INFECTIOUS LAUGH

When Richard Gere snapped the jewelry box on Roberts’s hand inPretty Woman,“he was improvising,” screenwriter J.F. Lawton toldEW, “and Julia didn’t know, so her laugh was real.”

04of 2017. SHE’S BANKABLESuzanne Tenner/Tristar PicturesIn 1997, Roberts broke a rom-com record:My Best Friend’s Wedding(co-starring Cameron Diaz) earned $21.7 million in its opening weekend, toppingSleepless in Seattle’s debut and ultimately making almost $300 million worldwide. In all, her romantic comedies have raked in more than $1 billion.

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17. SHE’S BANKABLE

Suzanne Tenner/Tristar Pictures

17. SHE’S BANKABLE

In 1997, Roberts broke a rom-com record:My Best Friend’s Wedding(co-starring Cameron Diaz) earned $21.7 million in its opening weekend, toppingSleepless in Seattle’s debut and ultimately making almost $300 million worldwide. In all, her romantic comedies have raked in more than $1 billion.

05of 2016. SHE’S A ROMANTICInNotting Hill,she played a movie star seeking the heart of ordinary guy Hugh Grant (sound familiar?). But it was her line “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her” that inspired crushes everywhere to ‘fess up.

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16. SHE’S A ROMANTIC

16. SHE’S A ROMANTIC

InNotting Hill,she played a movie star seeking the heart of ordinary guy Hugh Grant (sound familiar?). But it was her line “I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her” that inspired crushes everywhere to ‘fess up.

06of 2015. SHE RAISED THE BARZumaRoberts was the first woman to break into the $20 million-a-movie club with 2000’sErin Brockovich. “Nobody made Julia Roberts a star,” future $20 million-womanReese WitherspoontoldPremiere. “She busted her butt.”

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15. SHE RAISED THE BAR

Zuma

15. SHE RAISED THE BAR

Roberts was the first woman to break into the $20 million-a-movie club with 2000’sErin Brockovich. “Nobody made Julia Roberts a star,” future $20 million-womanReese WitherspoontoldPremiere. “She busted her butt.”

07of 2014. THAT PUSHUP BRABob Marshak/Universal StudiosAmerica’s Sweetheart transformed (with the help of a skimpy wardrobe!) for the title role of sassy, sexy single mother Erin Brockovich (opposite Albert Finney). “She’s at her absolute peak as an artist,” director Steven Soderbergh said of her work in the film.

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14. THAT PUSHUP BRA

Bob Marshak/Universal Studios

14. THAT PUSHUP BRA

America’s Sweetheart transformed (with the help of a skimpy wardrobe!) for the title role of sassy, sexy single mother Erin Brockovich (opposite Albert Finney). “She’s at her absolute peak as an artist,” director Steven Soderbergh said of her work in the film.

08of 2013. SHE’S A WINNERTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/GettyAt 33, Roberts won a Best Actress Academy Award forErin Brockovich. “I love the whole world,” she said at the podium. “I’msohappy. Thank you.”

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13. SHE’S A WINNER

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty

Actress Julia Roberts celebrates her Oscar win for

At 33, Roberts won a Best Actress Academy Award forErin Brockovich. “I love the whole world,” she said at the podium. “I’msohappy. Thank you.”

09of 2012. SHE’S ONE OF THE GUYSMike Marsland/WireImageRoberts crashed the boys’ club in the caper seriesOcean’s Eleven, withGeorge Clooney,Brad PittandMatt Damon. “It was like being the youngest girl in a family of boys,” she said. “They picked on me.”

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12. SHE’S ONE OF THE GUYS

Mike Marsland/WireImage

“Money Monster” - Red Carpet Arrivals - The 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Roberts crashed the boys’ club in the caper seriesOcean’s Eleven, withGeorge Clooney,Brad PittandMatt Damon. “It was like being the youngest girl in a family of boys,” she said. “They picked on me.”

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11. SHE’S GIVING

11. SHE’S GIVING

After serving as UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti in the ’90s, Robertslent her star powerto palGeorge Clooney’s “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon to benefit earthquake victims. And her giving doesn’t seem to stop.

11of 2010. SHE’S AN ALL-TIME STUNNERIn 1991, Roberts – already the highest-paid actress in Hollywood at only 23 –landed on her firstof a record five Most Beautiful and Beautiful Issue PEOPLE covers.

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10. SHE’S AN ALL-TIME STUNNER

10. SHE’S AN ALL-TIME STUNNER

In 1991, Roberts – already the highest-paid actress in Hollywood at only 23 –landed on her firstof a record five Most Beautiful and Beautiful Issue PEOPLE covers.

12of 209. SHE FINALLY FOUND HER MATCHSante D’Orazio/APOn the set ofThe Mexicanin 2000, Roberts met her future husband, cameraman Danny Moder. “I was born to be the wife of this man,” she said aftertheir 2002 nuptials.

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9. SHE FINALLY FOUND HER MATCH

Sante D’Orazio/AP

8. SHE FINALLY FOUND HER MATCH

On the set ofThe Mexicanin 2000, Roberts met her future husband, cameraman Danny Moder. “I was born to be the wife of this man,” she said aftertheir 2002 nuptials.

13of 208. SHE’S A ROLE MODELFlynetIn the 2010 hitValentine’s Day, Roberts shared the spotlight with her niece, Emma Roberts – daughter of Julia’s actor brother Eric. “I wish I could act as good as her,” the younger Roberts said, “but I just do my best.”

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8. SHE’S A ROLE MODEL

Flynet

7. SHE’S A ROLE MODEL

In the 2010 hitValentine’s Day, Roberts shared the spotlight with her niece, Emma Roberts – daughter of Julia’s actor brother Eric. “I wish I could act as good as her,” the younger Roberts said, “but I just do my best.”

14of 207. SHE CONQUERED BROADWAYKevin Mazur/WireimageRoberts made her “dream come to life” withher Broadway debut– oppositeBradley Cooperand Paul Rudd – in 2006’sThree Days of Rain. TheNew York Timessaid she was “so deeply disturbingly beautiful that you don’t want to let her out of your sight.”

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7. SHE CONQUERED BROADWAY

Kevin Mazur/Wireimage

6. SHE CONQUERED BROADWAY

Roberts made her “dream come to life” withher Broadway debut– oppositeBradley Cooperand Paul Rudd – in 2006’sThree Days of Rain. TheNew York Timessaid she was “so deeply disturbingly beautiful that you don’t want to let her out of your sight.”

15of 206. SHE’S DOWN TO EARTHFameDespite being among the most bankable stars, it’s everyday life that Roberts revels in. “Usually the triumph of my day is everybody making it to the potty,” the mom of three once joked on theTodayshow.

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6. SHE’S DOWN TO EARTH

Fame

5. SHE’S DOWN TO EARTH

Despite being among the most bankable stars, it’s everyday life that Roberts revels in. “Usually the triumph of my day is everybody making it to the potty,” the mom of three once joked on theTodayshow.

16of 205. THAT MEGAWATT SMILESteve Granitz/WireImageMoviegoers have dished out billions to see Roberts’s toothy grin. “You want to have it in every shot, because it’s so glorious,” saidNotting Hillproducer Duncan Kenworthy. “But you have to use it sparingly. It’s like a weapon.”

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5. THAT MEGAWATT SMILE

Steve Granitz/WireImage

4. THAT MEGAWATT SMILE

Moviegoers have dished out billions to see Roberts’s toothy grin. “You want to have it in every shot, because it’s so glorious,” saidNotting Hillproducer Duncan Kenworthy. “But you have to use it sparingly. It’s like a weapon.”

17of 204. SHE’S THE STANDARDJohn Shearer/WireImage; Ian Daniels/Startraks; Scott Kirkland/INFWhile Hollywood loves to dub newcomers – fromAnne HathawayandRachel McAdamstoKatherine Heigl– “The Next Julia Roberts,” there’s only one real Julia. “I can’t help but feel that’s a little insulting to [her],” Heigl said of the comparison.

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4. SHE’S THE STANDARD

John Shearer/WireImage; Ian Daniels/Startraks; Scott Kirkland/INF

3. SHE’S THE STANDARD

While Hollywood loves to dub newcomers – fromAnne HathawayandRachel McAdamstoKatherine Heigl– “The Next Julia Roberts,” there’s only one real Julia. “I can’t help but feel that’s a little insulting to [her],” Heigl said of the comparison.

18of 203. SHE’S A MOM FIRSTJustin Sullivan/GettyAfter giving birth to twins Phinnaeus and Hazel in 2004 and son Henry in 2007, Roberts relishes in her best role yet: Mom! “My life at home gives me absolute joy,” she said.

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3. SHE’S A MOM FIRST

Justin Sullivan/Getty

Fundraiser Event Held For Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign In Manhattan

After giving birth to twins Phinnaeus and Hazel in 2004 and son Henry in 2007, Roberts relishes in her best role yet: Mom! “My life at home gives me absolute joy,” she said.

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2. HER PROJECTS ALWAYS DELIGHT

Sony Pictures

1. … AND SHE’S BAAAACK!

20of 201. SHE’S SELFLESSJonathan Leibson/GettyOn her 49th birthday, the actress didn’t want anything for herself —but wanted her fans to help support LGBTQ youth. At the GLSEN Respect Awards in L.A. the weekend prior, Roberts invited fans to donate $49 to the organization in honor of her age. “If you wake up next Friday and think, ‘What should I get Julia for her birthday?’ " she said in a speech, “then donate to GLSEN.”

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1. SHE’S SELFLESS

Jonathan Leibson/Getty

2016 GLSEN Respect Awards - Los Angeles - Red Carpet

On her 49th birthday, the actress didn’t want anything for herself —but wanted her fans to help support LGBTQ youth. At the GLSEN Respect Awards in L.A. the weekend prior, Roberts invited fans to donate $49 to the organization in honor of her age. “If you wake up next Friday and think, ‘What should I get Julia for her birthday?’ " she said in a speech, “then donate to GLSEN.”

source: people.com