Actress Julia Roberts has been named the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” by People magazine for a record fifth time.
The magazine announced Roberts’ selection on Wednesday. The 49-year-old actress previously claimed the cover spot in 2010, 2005, 2000 and 1991.
Roberts, who won an Academy Award for Erin Brockovich, says she is “very flattered” by the experience.
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Roberts is way more than just a Pretty Woman and here are seven reasons why we love her.
1. She will always be Pretty Woman
Many people fell in love with Roberts when she played Vivian Ward, an assertive freelance hooker with a heart of gold, in the 1990 film.
Pretty Woman is one of the top-grossing romantic comedies of all time, and the role launched Roberts’ career.
Boys, girls, old, young – they all love Julia,” director Garry Marshall said.
Roberts revealed to People that she had no idea how much her life had changed after the release of the classic film.
“People say, ‘Oh, when Pretty Woman came out it must have really changed your life,’ and it’s kind of become this joke, but the truth is I was out of town when Pretty Woman came out,” she said in the cover story. “I was in another movie in this tiny little town that was showing Star Wars in its first run. I remember reading … ‘Pretty Woman came out this weekend and made this much money’ and I thought, ‘Is that a lot of money? Is that good? Is that great?’ I didn’t really know.”
2. She’s Momma Bear
The mother of three previously claimed that her best role yet is being a mom. “My life at home gives me absolute joy,” she said.
Roberts and husband Danny Moder share a set of twins Phinnaeus and Hazel, 12, and a son named Henry, 9.
She has always made it a point to keep her children out of the spotlight and give them a life as normal as possible
“We try to protect our kids,” she told USA Today in 2013. “We just want to have our family life and not have that intruded upon.”
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Roberts has also made it clear —through her actions and words— that she doesn’t like paparazzi stalking out schools to get photos of her children.
She chased down a photographer in her SUV near a school in 2007 and let him know how she felt.
The incident was caught on video (below at 2:02) as she pursued a car of photographers and got them to pull over. She told one man to shut off his camera and said, “Listen, hi. You can turn your video camera off because I’m going to talk to you about the fact that you’re at a school where children go. Turn it off!”
After the incident became public, Roberts was asked by Access Hollywood what she said to the man.
Roberts replied, “I just told him a school is not a place for a grown man to be crawling around trying to take pictures.”
She added: “If you want to take a picture of a person, then go to an adult place. Go to the coffee shop, go to the grocery store, go to the restaurant. Don’t stake out someone’s children’s church, school or playground environment.”
3. She’s really not afraid to call out paparazzi
In January 2009, Roberts had a similar confrontation with another photographer. In this incident, she was caught on camera swearing and ranting at a paparazzo who she claims had been following her all day.
The incident happened after she picked up her two children from school. She was driving around with her kids in Los Angeles when the photographer approached her and said “Hey Julia, how are you? You look great today.”
The actress became angry and immediately parked her car before she approached them. “You get the f*ck out of my face. Do you understand me?” she screamed.
“You are harassing me. Get the f*ck out of my face. You have followed me all over town. I have had it with you.” Roberts kept screaming at the photographer although he had already apologized to her. “F*ck off! Aim higher! Get a life! Get away from me!” she said.
Roberts also asked a paparazzo in New York to “go on with his life” in 2012. She offered to give him a couple shots but told him “it looks like you need a shower and some dinner.”
4. She’s one of the most successful actresses in terms of box office receipts
Roberts is regularly on the Forbes highest-paid actress list.
In 2016, she placed eighth by banking US$12 million, even after her latest movie Mother’s Day bombed at the box office.
She placed sixth in 2015 with US$16 million and in 2007 she was the richest actress on the list, who built her estimated US$140-million net worth film by film.
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In 1997 she broke a rom-com record when My Best Friend’s Wedding earned US$21.7 million in its opening weekend, topping Sleepless in Seattle’s debut and ultimately making almost US$300 million worldwide. Her romantic comedies have made more than US$1 billion.
The Runaway Bride actress was the first actress in Hollywood to command a US$20 million-per-film paycheque. She was paid US$25 million for her role in Mona Lisa Smile (2003).
5. She gives back
On her 49th birthday, Oct. 28, Roberts didn’t want any gifts for herself. She wanted her fans to help support LGBTQ youth instead.
At the GLSEN Respect Awards in Los Angeles the weekend prior, the actress invited fans to donate $49 to the organization in honour of her age.
“If you wake up next Friday and think, ‘What should I get Julia for her birthday?'” she said in a speech. “Donate to GLSEN.”
She served as UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti in the ’90s and she also answered phones during George Clooney’s “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon to benefit earthquake victims in 2010.
6. She’s down to earth
Despite her popularity, Roberts captures many people’s attention by conveying a balance between fame and being an ordinary woman.
The 49-year-old actress revealed she cooks three meals a day and sews for her three children in Marie Claire‘s December 2013 issue.
“It’s my privilege and an honour to cook three meals a day for my family, and it’s a luxury on a level that I didn’t even realize,” the actress and mother said.
7. She doesn’t have social media
The Notting Hill actress is not on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat or any form of social media, which is very rare these days.
Roberts revealed she steers clear of the internet in Marie Claire‘s December 2013 issue.
“It’s kind of like cotton candy,” she said, referring to the internet. “It looks so appealing and you just can’t resist getting in there, and then you just end up with sticky fingers and it lasted an instant.”
She also mentioned that she refrains from typing her name into Google’s search box, noting that she can afford to live without the limitless supply of subjective opinions.
“I have too much potential for collapse,” she said, before adding her theories on why criticism comes so easily online: “There’s an anonymity that makes people feel safe to participate in hatefulness.”
She admitted that she can handle criticism in general. “I like a good old-fashioned fistfight if people are pissed off at each other,” she explained. “I just feel like if you’re really mad and want to have a fight, then put your dukes up.”
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Other women featured in this year’s issue include Taraji P. Henson, Chrissy Metz, Emma Watson, Viola Davis, Oprah Winfrey, Mandy Moore and Carrie Underwood.
Previous cover girls include Sandra Bullock (2015), Lupita Nyong’o (2014), Gwyneth Paltrow (2013), Beyoncé (2012) and Jennifer Lopez (2011).
People’s 28th annual “World’s Most Beautiful” double issue will be on newsstands Friday.
—With files from The Associated Press
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