‘Little brat’ early on, Roberts says

Actress says she’s outgrown selfish behaviour

Julia Roberts was a “little brat” when she was starting out her Hollywood career.

The actress rose to prominence after starring in 1988 movie Mystic Pizza, and has since gone on to star in such big films as Steel Magnolias, Pretty Woman and Erin Brockovich, winning the best actress Oscar in 2001 for the titular role.

However, reflecting on her early years in the entertainment business in an interview for the November issue of U.K. Harper’s Bazaar, Roberts admitted that at the time she was very self-centred.

“I was my priority, a selfish little brat running around making films,” she said.

During the 1990s, Roberts was romantically linked to actors including Kiefer Sutherland, Dylan McDermott and Benjamin Bratt. But it wasn’t until she met cameraman Danny Moder on the set of her film The Mexican in 2000 that her personal and work priorities shifted.

“It was meeting Danny ... finding my person. When I think about what makes my life my life, and makes sense and just shine inside of me, it’s him. Everything has come from that for me,” she said.

Since marrying Moder in 2002 and welcoming their children — twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, 12, and Henry, 10 — Roberts has been very particular about the film roles she takes on. Now, she has an “almost unfair” standard that a script must attain for her to leave her family and work.

“I just wait to see what comes along, as opposed to looking for it,” she said, adding she feels content with her success. “There are great things I’ve accomplished and I’d be happy to accomplish more, of course, to impress my children and my husband. But you know what? I’ve been spoiled already.”