Julia Roberts, known worldwide, is not only a successful Hollywood actress but also a truly exemplary mother. With her husband, cinematographer Danny Moder she has three children: twins Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus Walter, born on November 28, 2004, and Henry Daniel, born on June 18, 2007. Despite her fame, keeps her family life private and views her role as a mother as equally fulfilling as her acting career.
In an October 2022 interview with CBS Sunday Morning, she expressed,
The life that I've built with my husband, the life that we've built with our children...that's the best stuff, to come home at the end of the day triumphantly to them.
Supported by Her On-Set Family
While being pregnant with the twins during the filming of "Ocean's 12," she was cherished by her colleagues.
I was pregnant for the first time, and you would have thought I was made of glass," the Pretty Woman actress said during a 2022 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. "They just wanted to dress me in cotton balls and usher me. It was really, really charming.
Thoughtful Naming Decisions
Julia and her husband chose their names very carefully.
"Hazel is an old-fashioned name, and she's a strong, perfect Hazel," she shared on The Late Show with David Letterman. As for Phinnaeus, "My husband wanted to name him Finn, which I quite liked, but it seemed like a nickname," she later said on Live with Regis and Kelly. "So I said we had to have a proper name, and then we can call him Finn.”
Cherishing Handwritten Traditions
The family has a touching tradition of writing letters, which has been preserved since her and her husband's youth. Julia treasures handwritten letters, including a seven-page one from Danny, intending to show it to Hazel one day and say "That's what you're looking for."
Protecting Family Privacy
Known for protecting her children's privacy, she rarely shares their photos on social media. However, she celebrated their 19th birthday in November 2023 by posting a rare photo of two when they were babies, explaining, "It's something to be celebrated, and I know Instagram is a place where people like to share happy things,” she explained to Extra in December 2023 about why she decided to give a glimpse of her kids.
Emphasizing Real-Life Connections
Roberts values real-life connections, minimizing her family's reliance on technology by having rules such as placing phones on a charging station upon arriving home and keeping them away from the dinner table. She treasures family dinners as a time for conversation and bonding.
“I think of a family coming together at the end of the day, and you actually have things to talk about at dinner because you haven’t been in contact all day long a hundred times,” the actress said.
Balancing Career Success with Family Priorities
Balancing work and family is crucial for Roberts, who appreciates the luxury of focusing on family when needed. Her early career success allowed her to step back and spend more time with her family. Now, as her older children have left for college, she proudly supports them:
"It's really thrilling, and I wasn't lucky enough to have a college experience," also the actress adds "And so to see how it's happening for them is really fascinating. And yeah, I'm just, I'm excited for them.”
Despite the distance, Roberts maintains a close bond with her family through group video calls, ensuring their deep connection and love endure.
