Julia Roberts has long been Hollywood’s symbol of charm, elegance, and that unforgettable smile. But in her deeply emotional role in August: Osage County, Roberts took a dramatic leap — shedding every trace of her signature glamour to deliver one of the most powerful performances of her career.
Filmed in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the 44-year-old actress stepped into the shoes of Barbara Weston — a woman caught between duty, grief, and decades of family dysfunction. The role, adapted from Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize–winning play, explores themes of loss, addiction, and generational pain. Gone were the designer dresses and red-carpet radiance; Roberts appeared in simple jeans, muted tones, and unstyled brunette hair, embodying a character stripped bare by life’s emotional weight.
One of the film’s most haunting scenes unfolds at a boat dock, where Barbara must face an unbearable truth. Standing beside her estranged husband, played by Ewan McGregor, Roberts delivers a raw, understated performance — her heartbreak spilling out not through words, but silence. Crew members later described it as one of the most moving takes they had ever witnessed.
Despite the story’s intensity, the set often buzzed with laughter between takes. Roberts’ warm spirit kept morale high, especially among her co-stars Julianne Nicholson and Meryl Streep. Nicholson, who plays Barbara’s sister Ivy, shared a close on-set bond with Roberts — a friendship that helped them navigate the film’s emotionally charged scenes.
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