Julia Roberts Reveals Who She Thinks Is Hollywoods Hardest Working Actor

Julia Roberts has long believed that the more effort someone puts into their craft, the higher their chances of achieving true excellence. This philosophy is exactly why she was so profoundly impacted by her experience working alongside Meryl Streep, whom many consider to be the greatest actor in cinema history.

Roberts was essentially blown away by the level of dedication she witnessed, discovering that genius is often just another word for relentless hard work. Roberts herself enjoyed a relatively rapid rise to fame after deciding to follow in the footsteps of her brother, Eric. By 1987, she had moved to New York and quickly transitioned from modeling to television and film, making her big-screen debut in the movie Satisfaction.

Just a few years later, she became a global sensation with the 1990 smash hit Pretty Woman, cementing her status as one of the most bankable stars in the industry. While Roberts was ascending, Meryl Streep was already an established titan of the screen, having made her own debut in the late 1970s.

For Roberts, Streep was more than just a talented peer; she became a role model for both professional and personal life. The two eventually shared the screen in the 2013 family drama August: Osage County, an ensemble film produced by George Clooney. The project allowed Roberts to observe Streep’s process firsthand, an experience that left a lasting impression on her.

Reflecting on their time together, Roberts praised Streep for proving that mastery is born from labor rather than luck. She observed that Streep showed that it is about working hard and noted that she had never seen anyone work harder than she does.

Roberts debunked the myth of effortless talent, stating that Streep doesn’t just snap her fingers and be a genius but is instead the hardest-working girl in the room. For Roberts, getting to know her was an honor, even if being in scenes with her was certainly, to be in these scenes with her.

As of this year, both women continue to dominate the Hollywood landscape with massive projects on the horizon. Streep, who holds the record for the most Oscar nominations in history, is currently preparing for the highly anticipated release of The Devil Wears Prada 2. Scheduled for May 1, the sequel reunites her with Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, following Miranda Priestly as she navigates the challenges of a shifting media landscape.

Additionally, Streep has recently been cast to play music legend Joni Mitchell in a high-profile biopic directed by Cameron Crowe. Julia Roberts is equally busy, having recently starred in the Luca Guadagnino thriller After the Hunt, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination in January.

She is currently working on Panic Carefully, a suspenseful film directed by Sam Esmail that features an impressive cast including Elizabeth Olsen and Eddie Redmayne. Beyond that, she is set to reprise her role as Tess Ocean in Ocean’s 14, which is scheduled to begin filming in October with original co-stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

Between these massive franchise returns and her continued pursuit of challenging dramatic roles, Roberts remains a shining example of the work ethic she so admired in Streep.

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