Julia Roberts reveals the sweet gift she gave to Richard Curtis the morning of Notting Hill’s film premiere in 1999
Julia Roberts has revealed the sweet gift she gave to Richard Curtis on the day Notting Hill premiered in 1999.
Screenwriter Richard Curtis, 67, reflected on his long friendship when he had the pleasure of interviewing the American actress, 56, for her. British Vogue cover debut.
And looking back on the morning of the Notting Hill film premiere almost three decades ago, Richard revealed that Julia had gifted his daughter Scarlett, 28, with a knitted blanket.
The screenwriter said she came to his home in Notting Hill with a hand-stitched throw she had made on set during the film’s production.
He said: ‘On the day of the film’s premiere she came to our house in Notting Hill with a blanket she had knitted on set with my daughter Scarlett’s name on it.
Julia Roberts, 56, has revealed the sweet gift she gave to Richard Curtis, 67, on the day Notting Hill premiered in 1999 (pictured together in October 2022)
Returning to the morning of the Notting Hill film premiere almost thirty years ago, Richard revealed that Julia gifted his daughter Scarlett, 28, with a knitted blanket (Julia pictured in Notting Hill)
‘When we mentioned that Scarlett was in nursery school across the road, Julia simply left us and went to the school, rang the bell and asked if she could see Scarlett so she could hand the letter to her personally. She’s naughty too.’
Julia also revealed during the interview that she wants to support other women who feel pressured to undress on camera.
The actress has avoided all spicy roles and even in her famous role as a prostitute in Pretty Woman she remained fully clothed.
Asked if they ‘any feelings of responsibility towards other women’ with her behavior in her films, Julia explained: ‘My G-rated career…
“You know, not to criticize other people’s choices, but not taking my clothes off in a movie or being physically vulnerable is a choice I think I make for myself.”
She further revealed that her steadfast stance might have something to do with her surprising link to a feminist icon.
Julia revealed she created her family tree with Finding Your Roots star Dr. Henry Gates and declared: ‘I’m DNA cousins with Gloria Steinem.’
The Oscar-winning actress previously revealed she didn’t want to undress for the sake of her children.
The screenwriter said she came to his home in Notting Hill with a hand-stitched throw she had made on set during the film’s production.
He said: ‘On the day of the film’s premiere she came to our house in Notting Hill with a blanket she had knitted on set with my daughter Scarlett’s name on it’ (Richard’s daughter Scarlett pictured in 2018)
Julia also revealed the real reason why she doesn’t want to do nude scenes and her surprising link to a feminist icon as she made her cover debut for British Vogue
When asked if she has “any feelings of responsibility towards other women” with her behavior in her films, Julia explained: “My G-rated career…”
She added, “You know, not to criticize other people’s choices, but not taking my clothes off in a movie or being physically vulnerable is a choice I think I make for myself.”
When asked if she would consider doing a nude scene in a movie, she said, “You know that’s not really what I do, so if you’re going to ask me to do it, you should expect it is toned down. You know, as a mother of three, I feel that way.”
Julia married cameraman Danny Moder in 2002 and welcomed twins Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus Walter in 2004. Years later they welcomed son Henry.
The radiant redhead then credited her man for looking youthful as she asked about the key to her appearance and mused: ‘Good genes, living a fulfilling life, and I’ve said this – and I usually say it like kind of a joke – but I do believe in the love of a good man.
‘I believe that my husband loves me and cares for me in a way that makes me feel deeply, deeply happy. ‘
Julia and Danny met on the set of The Mexican in 2000, where she acted alongside Brad Pitt, and he worked as a cinematographer.
Julia was in a relationship with Benjamin Bratt at the time, while Danny was married to make-up artist Vera Steimberg.
“I could see how great he was, but we were both in relationships at the time, so we were just friends,” Julia revealed in a 2003 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
The couple eventually separated from their respective partners before romance blossomed.
Even in her famous role as a prostitute in Pretty Woman, she remained fully clothed (pictured in the 1990 romcom)
She further revealed that her steadfast stance could have something to do with her surprising link to a feminist icon, explaining that she is DNA cousins with Gloria Steinem (pictured)
“He ran his entire business separately and separately from me,” she previously explained to Oprah. “And I put my life in order, separated and apart from him. I think that’s the only reason we were able to ultimately fall in love and be together.”
They married in 2002 in a secret ceremony at Roberts’ ranch near Taos, New Mexico.
Elsewhere in her conversation with Richard, they discussed their work on the 1999 rom-com Notting Hill.
Although it may be one of the biggest films of her career, the actress confessed that she was initially reluctant to accept the role.
She admitted: ‘Honestly, one of the hardest things I ever had to do was your film (Notting Hill, 1999), where I played a film actress. I felt so uncomfortable!
“I mean, we’ve talked about this so many times, but I almost didn’t take the role because it just… oh, it just seemed so awkward. I didn’t even know how to play that person.”
Julia added that she hated dressing up as a Hollywood star for the role and ended up wearing her own clothes for the iconic ‘I’m just a girl’ scene with Hugh Grant.
She explained: “My driver, dear Tommy, I sent him back to my flat that morning. I said, “Go into my bedroom and get this, this and this from my closet.”
Julia married cameraman Danny Moder (photo 2014) in 2002 and welcomed twins Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus Walter in 2004. Years later they welcomed son Henry.
Elsewhere in her chat with Richard, where the conversation turned to their work on the 1999 romcom, Notting Hill and Julia revealed she wore her own clothes for the iconic ‘I’m just a girl’ scene (pictured)
“And it was my own slippers and my cute little blue velvet skirt and a T-shirt and my cardigan.”
When she wasn’t learning her lines or scenes, Julia kept herself busy on set knitting a blanket, which she eventually gave to Richard at the premiere as a gift for his daughter Scarlett.
The February issue of British Vogue is available digitally download and available on newsstands from Tuesday 16 January.