Culture
21 Feb 02

Romeos & Julia

She may have a reputation as an actress who has a penchant for getting romantically involved with many of her leading men, but Julia Roberts is guarded about her personal life. She has been romantically linked to Matthew Perry, Daniel Day Lewis and Pat Manocchia, a friend of the late John F Kennedy Jr. among others, but she is constantly surrounded by a loyal staff, whose job it is to preserve her privacy. However, she has been involved in some very public liaisons, as Stephen Robinson reports.

Liam Neeson.

Julia Robert’s major break into big budget movies was the 1988 made-for-cable feature Satisfaction. During the making of the film she enjoyed an off-screen romance with co-star Liam Neeson. Roberts was 21 at that time. Although the pair appeared besotted with each other, the romance fizzled out after a short time. However Neeson, now married to Natasha Richardson, remains close to Roberts and the pair were re-united in Neil Jordan’s 1996 epic Michael Collins.

Kiefer Sutherland.

Julia Roberts had been engaged to Dylan McDermot before she met Kiefer Sutherland, with whom she starred in 1991’s Flatliners. After a whirlwind romance, the pair declared that they were to be married. Just days before the wedding, however, Julia vanished. A heart-broken Sutherland was amazed to discover she had fled to Dublin, a city Sutherland had introduced her to, in the company of his best friend, actor Jason Patric. Although she admitted to being romantically involved with Patric, the relationship did not last.

Lyle Lovett

The pairing of America’s sweetheart with country star Lyle Lovett caught many fans of both artists by surprise. Lovett had a reputation as a taciturn individual, shy and unforthcoming. Roberts was arguably the most bankable young actress in the USA, enjoying commercial and critical success, emphasised her Oscar Nominations for Steel Magnolias in 1989 and Pretty Woman in 1990. The pair worked together on Robert Altman’s 1992 exposé of The Player and married in 1993. They stayed together for a mere 21 months before divorcing. Of late, they have reconciled their differences and are close friends.

Benjamin Bratt

In 1997 Benjamin Bratt, whose starring role in the award winning TV series Law And Order, had made him one of the most eligible bachelors in the USA began a high-profile relationship with Julia Roberts. After a series of less than spectacular outings including 1994’s I Love Trouble and Prét-A-Porter, Roberts’ career was in the ascendant too, culminating in her starring role in 2000’s Erin Brockovich. Roberts subsequent Golden Globe and Oscar awards put her at the top of the A list of US actresses. However, her relationship with Bratt appeared to suffer as her career re-ignited. In the four years they were together they sported friendship rings, but pressures of work led to a split while Roberts was filming Ocean’s Eleven. It is believed that Bratt ended the relationship. She denied rumours that an off-set relationship with George Clooney was the reason for Bratt’s departure.

DANNY MODER

More recently Roberts has admitted to seeing film technician Danny Moder, whom she met on the set of the forthcoming Full Frontal. Moder’s father is a Hollwood producer, so it’s possible that he won’t be fazed by the prospect of dating the most famous, and, at $20,000,000 a movie, the most highly paid actress in the world.