Getty ImagesWhile Julia Roberts has been a movie star for over two decades, the 46-year-old beauty admits it would be tough to handle the limelight in this day and age.
The Oscar winning actress, who was most recently nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in August: Osage County, shot to stardom before ever having to deal with social media or endless Internet chatter, which has allowed Roberts to remain true to herself although she worries about the effects of the business on the younger generation.
Namely, her niece Emma Roberts, whose acting creds include We're The Millers, American Horror Story: Coven and Wild Child.
"When [Emma] comes to stay with us, I always think, 'Please let her be the same' — and she is still the same magical girl she used to be," Roberts revealed in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times. "I think so much of it has to do with your intentions in taking on a business like this. If you have a pure view of what you want to accomplish, I think you can maintain your sense of self."
A strong sense of self has led the brunette beauty to put her personal life, rather than her career, first in recent years as she dedicates much of her time to her three children—9-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus and 6-year-old Henry—with her cinematographer hubby Daniel Moder.
She leads a low-key life in Southern California—"Everyone is always in such disbelief that I can go to the market," she says, and—thanks to her long and successful film career, is able to choose projects on which she truly wants to work.
"I think people like to say that I'm super picky because of how much I lo-oo-ve my kids. But as an actor, I sort of pride myself on the fact that I've always been picky," she shared before explaining the reason behind her selective nature. "There's a couple things at play. For one, I'm 46 years old, so falling out of chairs isn't as funny. I could break a hip. Certain scenarios that worked 10 years ago aren't as appealing, as applicable, as believable, as original — all those things."
While we doubt moviegoers will want to see less of Roberts on the big screen anytime soon, the actress has seemingly passed on her title as "America's Sweetheart" to stars like Jennifer Lawrence, who has won over audiences with her undeniable charm.
As for how Roberts has been able to maintain her down-to-Earth demeanor over the years?
"Nobody expected me to be anybody but myself, really," she said, adding that she never had any formal media training.
"Thank God I never had that," Roberts laughed. "I would have failed."
Well, if Julia and Jennifer are any indication, it seems that just being yourself is the best trick in the book.