Julia Roberts reveals she ‘almost didn’t take’ the role in one of her most notable films
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV
Lucy Devine
Featured Image Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images / Universal Pictures
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV
Julia Roberts has revealed that one of her most notable roles almost didn't happen
From Pretty Woman's icon character Vivian, to the devious Julianne in My Best Friend's Wedding and not forgetting fickle Maggie in Runaway Bride, we simply refuse to believe *anyone* else other than Julia Roberts could have played these roles.
But Roberts has recently revealed that she almost didn't play one of her most notable characters - and the reason why is so ironic.
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Obviously, Roberts is a Hollywood actress, so you'd think playing the role of a Hollywood actress would be no problem at all.
But, apparently not.
Speaking to British Vogue about one of her biggest roles to date, Roberts explained there was one movie in particular that she struggled with.
In fact, she was even hesitant to accept the job because she felt she simply 'didn't know how' to play the role.
Sitting down with Notting Hill screenwriter Richard Curtis, Roberts said: “And honestly, one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was your movie, playing a movie actress."
Roberts is, of course, talking about her role of film star Anna Scott in 90s flick Notting Hill.
"I was so uncomfortable," she added. “I almost didn’t take the part because it just seemed - oh, it just seemed so awkward.
“I didn’t even know how to play that person.”
Roberts also reflected on one of the movie's most iconic scenes, where Anna stands in front of bookstore owner William Thacker (played by Hugh Grant) and tells him: “I’m just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
“I mean, it was a great scene,” Roberts added. “But who knew that that would become the line.”
It turns out that the outfit Roberts wore during the scene - a blue cardigan complete with velvet skirt - was actually her own.
Recalling how she 'loathed' the outfits she had to wear, she explained: “My driver, lovely Tommy, I sent him back to my flat that morning,” she said.
“I said, ‘Go into my bedroom and grab this, this and this out of my closet.’ And it was my own flip-flops and my cute little blue velvet skirt and a T-shirt and my cardigan.”
The movie, which was released in 1999, was a huge success, raking in more than $360 million (£282 million) at the box office, and going on to become one of the highest-grossing British films of all time.
In our eyes, there is no other Anna Scott.