Inside Julia Roberts’ Blissful Family World as a Mom of 3

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Julia Roberts put acting on the back burner the minute she became a mom almost 21 years ago.

Of course, even Roberts’ back burner was the stuff Hollywood dreams are made of.

Ever since Julia Roberts and her husband Danny Moder became parents to twins Hazel and Phinnaeus on November 28, 2004, her children have always been the focal point of her world. In fact, this was already the case even before their birth, as an opportunity to portray a pregnant Julia Roberts in the 2004 film “Ocean’s Twelve” had come up earlier.

In 2014, when I had children, I had already achieved many things and felt confident about that aspect of my life, as I told the Wall Street Journal. I was genuinely delighted to be entering the family stage of my life.

For quite some time, she mentioned, the children didn’t realize I had a job as I was at home so frequently.

Mike Nichols, the director who worked with Roberts on ‘Closer’ in 2004 and ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ in 2007, confirmed her portrayal of the character Mom.

He shared with the Wall Street Journal that “Julia excels most in managing their everyday lives.” He elaborated by saying, “The small details speak volumes. When you drop by their home, there won’t be any staff cleaning their entrance. There will be toys scattered everywhere, and it’s just Julia, Danny, and the children. She often steps aside from the spotlight.

In an interview on The Goop Podcast with Gwyneth Paltrow in October 2018, Roberts expressed that stepping away from her career to dedicate herself solely to motherhood was a truly privileged choice. She explained that, having worked for 18 years in the film industry, marked by high-profile projects and financial success, she felt she had earned the right to use this newfound time as she pleased with the addition of new family members at home.

It took some time for her children to learn about her profession, but regardless, if you didn’t live through the era when movies like ‘Pretty Woman’, ‘Notting Hill’, and ‘Erin Brockovich’ were released, understanding the incredible heights of her fame might have been challenging.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey for Harper’s Bazaar in 2018, Roberts admitted, “I don’t believe they will ever truly understand that,” referring to those who are not familiar with her fame. She had previously expressed disbelief when they began to grasp their own celebrity status, saying something like, “You’re famous?” To which she replied, “Many people might have seen the movie I’m in or know who I am.

Roberts found herself reminiscing about how the children had been munching on something for roughly an hour, then inquired, “Are you more well-known than Taylor Swift?

Children sometimes come up with the most unexpected things, so it wasn’t surprising when Roberts took his kids to Taylor Swift’s 1989 Tour in 2015, and even more astonishing that their mom got to join Swift on stage as a special guest performer!

As a devoted admirer, I shared with Extra my delightful encounter. She was incredibly kind to my kids, who were first-timers at a show. They’re huge fans! She then asked if we could join her on stage during a song and dance. After I posed the question to my children, they were all eager and said, “Mom, you have to do it!” Even my youngest son added, “Only do it if you really want to, Mommy.” It was such a heartwarming experience!

By chance, last summer at the Eras Tour in Dublin, he managed to secure an exclusive seat right next to the member of the Chiefs football team, who is 57 years old.

It wasn’t just obvious from a young age that Hazel, Finn (also known as Finn), and their brother Henry, born on June 18, 2007, had numerous hints suggesting that their parents didn’t have conventional daytime jobs. Whether it was the frequent traveling, hanging out on film sets or backstage at Broadway theaters, or even the occasional visit from an Oscar-winning celebrity (apart from their mother) at their Malibu home, these experiences pointed to non-traditional work lives for their parents.

Roberts expressed gratitude for feeling no different than an ordinary family in the neighborhood, as he shared with the Wall Street Journal. He doesn’t doubt this feeling, quite honestly.

Instead of being confined to their immediate surroundings like their neighbors (with Malibu known for its celebrity appeal), they also have additional places to reside, such as a 30-acre ranch near Taos, NM, which is where Roberts and Moder got married on July 4, 2002, and where the actress has historically enjoyed spending most of her time.

As a devoted follower, I’d like to share that since my children, Finn and Hazel, grew up in the formative years of their lives in Southern California, they’re currently pursuing higher education at an undisclosed university. In fact, back in 2023, Roberts confirmed to Jimmy Fallon that she continues to represent the school colors and enthusiastically participates in all school spirit activities. Therefore, it’s safe to say that most of our cherished family moments have unfolded in the enchanting city of Malibu.

On certain occasions, you might find yourself wrapping up breakfast and tidying the kitchen only to realize that lunch preparation is already due, and by the end of that, dinner time rolls around too. At such moments, it may seem prudent to consider a meal delivery service. However, there are also days when cooking becomes an enjoyable and creative experience, especially with the help of your kids. As any mom or wife can attest, these tasks often become integrated parts of our daily routine. Some days are filled with fun, while others feel more like a task.

As the children continued to grow, some aspects of their lives remained constant, if not more crucial, such as shared meals, holiday traditions, birthday celebrations, sporting events like soccer and surfing, skateboarding, Roberts’ mah-jongg sessions with companions, craft activities like knitting and needlepoint.

Sharing meals is truly significant and has been the occasion for some remarkable discussions, as Roberts shared in an interview with InStyle back in 2017. “Typically, I eat breakfast and dinner with my children each day,” she explained. “I believe it underscores the importance of starting and ending things together, as well as taking time to reflect on and wind down our shared experiences.

In addition to being excellent actors, Finn also has quite the appetite for food: The actress shared with TopMob News (and an impressed Owen Wilson, her co-star from the 2017 film “Wonder”) that Finn particularly enjoys salmon with brown rice and she’s had no issues getting her family to eat their vegetables. As it turns out, Roberts mentioned, she didn’t start eating salad regularly until she was around 20 years old – something she doesn’t share with her family.

She partly credited their unpretentious taste in food to the extensive traveling they engage in, stating that when one travels, one often has to make do with the meals provided; however, it’s also worth noting that their mother is an excellent chef.

Despite Roberts being among the highest-earning actresses in Hollywood, she is providing her children with a typical, everyday mom’s care at home.

In 2019, Roberts shared on ITV’s Lorraine that she and her husband share similar views regarding their children’s upbringing. She expressed that, while they have advantages compared to their own childhood, they aim to provide a typical family experience. Additionally, she wants her kids to learn essential life skills like making a bed, doing laundry, and cooking one meal.

She went on to say, ‘These are essential life skills, and it’s crucial to consider the distinctions between the struggles I faced or experiences I missed as a child, but they must navigate their own path. They need to have their unique journey.’

For the past 30 years, Roberts’ personal experiences haven’t solely been her own. Despite her efforts to remain unaffected by outside opinions, whether they are positive or negative, she finds it incredibly humbling. As she shared with Paltrow, “It’s quite humbling when you have children. After an event, you return home in a big dress, heels, and diamonds, only to be greeted with, ‘Can I have a snack?’ And you respond, ‘Yes.’

Paltrow agreed, “It’s very grounding.”

In July 2021, Hazel had a closer encounter with the glitzy lifestyle when she stepped onto the red carpet for the first time at the age of 16, during the Cannes Film Festival alongside her father. This was at the screening of the movie “Flag Day,” directed by Sean Penn, where Hazel worked as the director of photography.

Originating from Los Angeles and having a fondness for the great outdoors, she occasionally posts captivating photos or videos of her children on Instagram. However, this particular event was her child Hazel’s most noticeable public appearance so far, despite the fact that we already knew from her mother that the young girl possesses an elegance beyond her age.

2017 saw Roberts expressing pride over her daughter’s selfless act of donating her long, golden locks for wig-making for children battling cancer. She shared in an interview with InStyle, “For a girl approaching 13 who is admired for her beautiful cascading hair, this is quite significant. Yet she’s not just good and brave, she views it as another opportunity.

Due to her father passing away when she was nine years old, Roberts has delightfully enjoyed observing her children grow independently, cherishing each moment, whether they’re ordinary (as she shared with People, “I’ve always loved back-to-school shopping,” she said, “and I’m realizing that I still love it!”) or significant.

She expressed that it’s challenging to articulate her feelings without coming off as overly sentimental or absurd because every thought in her mind seems to end with an exclamation mark. What’s more, she mentioned that these three individuals are such perfect embodiments of the love we share for one another.

As a devoted supporter, I too found myself placing my trust in my spouse, just like Roberts did, that he wouldn’t grant our youngest child the mullet he requested during our DIY haircut session at home.

On the January 10, 2023 episode of Table for Two With Bruce Bozzi, she remarked that Henry has a hairstyle resembling a quasi-mullet but looks quite trendy. During their conversation with George Clooney, her co-star in Ticket to Paradise, they both laughed about his hairstyle from the Facts of Life period. She jokingly told Danny not to get a full mullet.

In 2001, Roberts and Moder first crossed paths on the film set of “The Mexican,” an action movie, and have since then shared a strong bond, rarely spending time apart.

20…#unable_to_stop_smiling…#unable_to_stop_kissing! That’s how Roberts captioned her July 4, 2022 Instagram post commemorating their 20th wedding anniversary, the photo capturing them in the middle of a kiss.

She came up with fresh hashtags for their 21st in 2023, typing “#true love #yippee #foreverandever”, to accompany another photo of them locking lips.

Back in October 2022, she shared with TopMob News that the key to their lasting marriage is plenty of affectionate moments. This isn’t a new sentiment for her, as Roberts pointed out, and she remains firm in her belief.

On The Goop Podcast, Roberts described her encounter with Moder as a profound “seismic shift” in her life. She expressed that it was an unforgettable moment when she first met him, stating that “nothing would ever be the same” in the most extraordinary, ineffable way. Roberts went on to say that there is something magical about their relationship; Moder remains her all-time favorite person. They are fortunate, she emphasized, because they genuinely enjoy each other’s company.

During their entire marriage, they never spent more than seven weeks separated from each other, ensuring this rare occurrence transpired just once.

Back then, people primarily communicated over the phone, but when they first used Skype and she introduced 4-year-old Finn to it saying, “There’s Daddy,” he started crying, as Roberts remembered.

Upon their reunion, it seemed as though we all embraced each other warmly, forming a heap, and Danny remarked, “Alright, let’s promise never to do that again.” To which I responded with a casual agreement, “Yep.

For the most part, they do not work long jobs at the same time—unless they’re working together.

In one of their numerous joint productions was the 2015 thriller “Secret in Their Eyes”, where Roberts portrayed a deeply mourning mother whose daughter was brutally murdered. When asked about her preparations for such an emotionally taxing role, she shared with Working Mother, “I had a strong belief in my readiness because that’s where I feel the safest.

Every evening, Roberts found herself compelled to abandon her work on the film set. She emphasized that this was necessary because, despite pouring all her emotions into it, she recognized that it was just acting. This meant that she could leave the set behind, knowing she’d be able to reunite with her husband, drive home, and share a meal with her thriving kids, feeling grateful for their well-being.

Beyond agreeing on establishing a strong base of essential life skills for the children, they both needed to determine the most effective way to discuss global occurrences with the group of three.

Roberts shared with People, “Honesty and empowering their beliefs are crucial for us as a couple to maintain open communication and ensure they continue to express what they stand for.

In a similar vein, although she is cautious about her social media content (“I’m private,” she said to Winfrey in 2018, “but I’m also friendly”), Roberts has been astonished by the convenience of commenting on worldwide events without ever stepping foot outside – with both positive and negative implications.

When Oprah inquired whether “unconditional love” alone could prepare her children for modern times, she responded, “Things are not the same as they were when I might have told my mom, ‘Mom, you don’t understand what it’s like to be a teenager now,’ even though she likely did.

Danny and I often find ourselves unsure of the experiences modern teenagers have. At times, my children ask questions that leave us stumped, so we usually respond by saying, ‘I’ll say no for now, while I investigate further, as I’m not fully aware of what this conversation pertains to.’

However, Roberts maintained her optimism, stating, “When nurturing the next generation during these times, and truly aiming for improvement and progress for all, it’s essential to hold the conviction that things will improve and actively engage in expressing that faith regularly.

At the Sept. 7, 2022 premiere of Ticket to Paradise, she displayed her emotions through a customized black Alexander McQueen dress, adorned with hearts representing her children’s initials, significant years from their lives (2002, 2004, and 2007), and the words “Hope,” “Darling,” and “Love” encrusted in crystals.

Speaking on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2017, she remarked that the journey of parenthood is something you navigate through, making your way as you go. Everyone does this, with its share of challenges and learning experiences along the way, tears included. Yet, it’s truly remarkable. I have three wonderful children, and when I look back at how small they once were, it seems like just a blink of an eye. Time really does fly by.

Full speed ahead for more scenes from Julia Roberts’ blissful family world:

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2025-07-04 10:17