Julia Roberts has claimed ‘Hollywood is still super-male’ dominated and revealed how she has battled the industry during her 35-year career.
The acclaimed actress, 57, who gained prominence in the 90s with Pretty Woman, confessed she “often finds herself at a table with only one other woman present.”
Even though she sometimes finds herself as the only woman in the room, Julia has become one of Hollywood’s most reliable stars and shared that she has dealt with this by acting ‘fearlessly.’
Her upcoming role in After The Hunt delves into the repercussions when a promising PhD student, Maggie (portrayed by Ayo Edebiri), accuses Andrew Garfield’s professor character, Hank, of sexual misconduct. This accusation impacts Maggie’s mentor, Alma (played by Julia Roberts), who is also a close friend and colleague of Hank’s.
Speaking to The Sunday Times about her character Alma succeeding in a ‘deeply misogynist’ world, Julia revealed her own experiences in Hollywood.
‘Well, it’s still super-male!’ she snapped back.
Julia Roberts has claimed ‘Hollywood is still super-male’ dominated and revealed how she has battled the industry during her 35-year career
The acclaimed actress, 57, who gained prominence in the 90s with Pretty Woman, confessed she “often finds herself at a table with only one other woman present”; seen in 1990 in Pretty Woman
‘There’s no doubt about it. However, indeed, any woman working in a field not dominated by women can relate to Alma’s speech. We’ve all been there. Any woman has.’
‘Because I often find myself sitting at a table and, maybe, there’s only one other woman there.’
When asked how she has managed to take charge in the industry, the Notting Hill actress candidly said: ‘In those kinds of settings, I am fearless.’
It comes after Julia admitted that her Oscar-winning After The Hunt costar Chloe Sevigny intimidated her.
The Erin Brockovich actress described to Variety how she felt when first meeting the acclaimed New Yorker.
‘I was so excited and intimidated about meeting Chloe,’ shared Julia.
‘And when we were at my house, we’re all sitting around the kitchen table, and [Julia’s daughter] Hazel was making herself some lunch, and we’re talking about the material and rehearsing.
‘Allan [Mandelbaum], our producer, he came in, and he goes, “Chloe should just be here in a couple minutes.” And I look up, and Ayo [Edebiri] looks up, and we match eyes.
Despite sometimes being the only woman in a room, Julia has become one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars and revealed she has combat this by being ‘without fear’
Her new role in After The Hunt, follows PhD candidate Maggie (Ayo Edebiri) who accuses her professor character Hank (Andrew Garfield) of sexual misconduct and how this affects Maggie’s mentor Alma (Julia Roberts pictured left)
‘Luca [Guadagnino] goes, “What?” And I go, “I’m scared.” And Ayo goes, “Me too.” And Hazel goes, “I’m leaving.” And then, like a minute later, the doorbell rang, and Hazel goes, “I’m leaving through the garage.” And truly we were so excited and intimidated.’
Julia went on to note that it was not easy for her to get into character for her new film.
‘The hardest part for me was not being sympathetic and empathetic,’ said the movie icon.
‘For me as a person, it’s like, “Oh, how can I hold her?” And she was not to be held. This was not the time. I have a very hen-like personality; I want to gather, and I want to feed and care. And she’s just the opposite of every instinct I’ve ever had in my life.
In the end it was ‘really exhausting’ for the actress.
‘The mental gymnastics of the way she lives her life is very unfamiliar to me. So having Luca keep me on the right rails at all times. And then, it’s a playground.’
Then Julia complimented another costar: ‘I don’t mean to single you out, Michael, but I go into these scenes with Michael, and I just turn to Luca and I’m like, “Are you f***ing kidding me?” What he’s doing is so unexpected and original, and I’m just watching him.
‘I’m not even in the scene anymore, because it’s so f***ing unreal what you’re doing right now.’
