See a young Julia Roberts in her ‘80s high school yearbook photos and get to know the ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Erin Brockovich’ actress better.
Full Name: Julia Fiona Roberts
Birthdate: October 28, 1967 (age 58)
High School: Campbell High School, Smyrna, Georgia
Who is Julia Roberts?
How is it even possible to forget about Julia Roberts’ memorable movie roles, spanning from the ‘80s to today? Her iconic performances as Vivian Ward in ‘Pretty Woman’ and Julianne Potter in ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ remind fans of everything they love about the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Julia Fiona Roberts is an Academy Award-winning actress who is arguably one of the most recognizable actresses in Hollywood. She first gained recognition for her role in Mystic Pizza (1988), and quickly became a beloved figure in pop culture for her lovable and relatable demeanor in her film roles.
She began her career starring in mostly romantic comedies, but eventually branched out to more dramatic roles, establishing herself as a more versatile actress. She will go down in history as one of the most memorable and talented actresses of all time, and her iconic roles will always remind her fans of their glory days.
What to Know About Julia Roberts
- High School Education: Before becoming Hollywood royalty, Julia Roberts was a clarinet player in the Campbell High School band (Class of 1985). Originally aspiring to be a veterinarian, she pivoted to acting and moved to NYC immediately after graduation, where she signed with Click Modeling Agency.
- Career Breakout: Following her breakout role in Mystic Pizza (1988), Roberts solidified her status as a Hollywood icon just two years later with Pretty Woman (1990), a role that earned her a global following and her first Best Actress Oscar nomination.
- Shift to Drama: While she reigned as the “Queen of Rom-Coms” in the ’90s for Notting Hill and My Best Friend’s Wedding, she successfully transitioned into heavy dramas, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of legal clerk Erin Brockovich (2000).
- A Hollywood Dynasty: Julia is part of a prolific acting family, including her sister Lisa Roberts Gillan and her brother Eric Roberts. Her niece, Emma Roberts, famously grew up on Julia’s film sets, and the two recently made headlines in September 2025 for their first joint red carpet appearance in 13 years.
Where Did Julia Roberts Go to School?
Elementary & Middle School Education
Roberts attended Fitzhugh Lee Elementary School and Griffin Middle School, both located in Smyrna, Georgia. As a young child, she expressed interest in animals and possibly becoming a veterinarian.
High School Education
Julia Roberts attended Campbell High School, also located in Smyrna, Georgia. She played clarinet in her high school’s band, and expressed interest in becoming an actress.
Following her high school graduation, Roberts moved to New York City, where she signed with the Click Modeling Agency and enrolled in acting classes.
Julia Roberts: Then vs. Now
Julia Roberts has always turned heads due to her stunning looks and effortless charm. From the ‘80s to today, here’s how she looked from her teenage years vs. now.
Colleen Sturtevant, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Julia Roberts: America’s Sweetheart
Early Career
Roberts began her career appearing in several minor television roles before landing her big break in the independent romantic comedy film Mystic Pizza (1988). Her role was well regarded among moviegoers and critics alike. Legendary film critic Roger Ebert described Roberts as a “major beauty with a fierce energy” and remarked that the film “may someday become known for the movie stars it showcased back before they became stars. All of the young actors in this movie have genuine gifts”.
Roberts continued to land consistent acting roles throughout the late ‘80s and ‘90s, including in Steel Magnolias (1989), which earned her her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and as kind-hearted prostitute Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman (1990), which introduced her to a global audience, and earned her a second Oscar nomination, this time for Best Actress.
Touchstone Pictures / Silver Screen Partners IV, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Robert’s other notable performances throughout the ‘90s included Steven Spielberg’s Hook (1991), in which she played Tinkerbell, The Pelican Brief (1993) alongside Denzel Washington, and Notting Hill (1999), in which she co-starred with Hugh Grant.
Rob Koster, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Transition to Dramas and Further Success
Robert’s success did not slow down during the 2000s, as she transitioned to more dramatic roles and received her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as the titular character in Steven Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich (2000). Roberts once again worked with Soderbergh in 2001, appearing in his film Ocean’s Eleven (2001) as Tess Ocean, the wife of conman Danny Ocean, alongside George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon.
Later Career and Today
Roberts had several other notable roles throughout the remainder of the 2000s and into the 2010s, including as an American photographer in Mike Nichols’ film Closer (2004), her reprisal of Tess Ocean in Ocean’s Twelve (2004), Joanne Herring in Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), another Mike Nichols film, and Queen Clementianna, the evil stepmother of Snow White, in Mirror Mirror (2012).
Roberts saw further success in the mid-2010s in a number of television roles, including as a social worker at a top-secret government facility in the series Homecoming (2018), with critics regarding it as an “impressive small-screen debut” for Roberts. Her most recent film role was in Leave the World Behind (2023) as advertising executive Amanda Sandford.
Who is Julia Roberts’ Family?
Difficult Upbringing
Roberts was born to her mother, Betty Lou Bredemus and father, Walter Grady Roberts, who passed away from cancer when Roberts was ten, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents divorced when she was just five years old, and she was subsequently raised in Smyrna, Georgia by her mother and stepfather, Michael Motes, whom her mother divorced in 1983 after enduring years of abuse at his hands.
Roberts was raised along with her brother, actor Eric Roberts, born in 1956, and sister, actress Lisa Roberts Gillan, born in 1965. Her niece, Emma Roberts, is also a well-known and successful actress. Roberts had a younger half-sister, Nancy Motes, who passed away from a drug overdose in 2014.
Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Acting Runs in the Family
Roberts’ parents were actors and playwrights who met while acting in theatrical productions for the United States Military. Together, they founded the Atlanta Actors and Writers Workshop, and ran a children’s acting school in Decatur, Georgia.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King enrolled their children in the Roberts’ program. The Kings were incredibly grateful for the Roberts’ services to American civil rights, as they ran the only racially integrated theatre school in the region, and ended up covering their hospital bill when Julia was born due to the Roberts’ financial challenges.
Married with Children
Roberts is currently married to cameraman Daniel Moder, whom she met on the set of The Mexican (2001). They married on the 4th of July in 2002 at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico. They have three kids together: twins Hazel and Phinneaus, born in 2004, and Henry, born in 2007.
A Beloved Hollywood Icon
Julia Roberts will forever be remembered for her endless contributions to American pop culture, and her incredible acting ability, appearing in some of the most memorable films of the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s. Dubbed “America’s Sweetheart” for the relatable charm she displays in her roles, Roberts’ performances will always remind her fans of all the best parts about their younger years.
Her most iconic films include:
- Mystic Pizza (1988)
- Steel Magnolias (1989)
- Pretty Woman (1990)
- Hook (1991)
- Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)
- The Pelican Brief (1993)
- My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
- Notting Hill (1999)
- Runaway Bride (1999)
- Erin Brockovich (2000)
- Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
- Ocean’s Twelve (2004)
- Closer (2004)
- Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
- Valentine’s Day (2010)
- Eat Pray Love (2010)
- Mirror Mirror (2012)
- Money Monster (2016)
- Wonder (2017)
- Ben Is Back (2018)
- Ticket to Paradise (2022)
- Leave the World Behind (2023)
Discover Yearbooks From Your Favorite Celebs
The yearbook collection from Classmates® contains over 480,000 yearbooks from some of the most influential celebrities, including Julia Roberts!
Believe it or not, you can also discover photos of your close friends and family from elementary, middle, and high school. Sign up for Classmates® now!
Related Celeb Yearbook Blogs
- Cameron Diaz High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Demi Moore High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Halle Berry High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Richard Gere High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Sandra Bullock High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Natalie Portman High School Yearbook Photo & Education
- Marisa Tomei High School Yearbook Photo & Education
Sources:
All product names, logos, brands, trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners.
