This Amazing Woman

Julia Roberts is an insanely talented actress whose career, spanning over a long 24 years, means she has had the opportunity and rightly so, to showcase her talents, applying that to a very wide range of roles from strong-minded, determined women to those chasing after love.

I must have first seen her in one of my favourite films of all time, Pretty Woman. Audiences found themselves falling in love with her just as much as her famous counterpart, in a story that was a mixture of touching, funny and romantic- a comedy classic. 

Sleeping with the Enemy is perhaps the most serious of roles I have seen her play and which stretched her to become a sweet but very afraid young woman who eventually leaves her violently controlling husband, plucking up the courage to flee and begin a new life elsewhere until the old one catches up with her. I shall leave it at that in case you haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, in which case I recommend you do. A friend of my parent’s had a fair few years ago now and was instantly a favourite of mine, like many of Robert’s films. 

My Best Friends Wedding plays havoc with her emotions and hotel mini-bars (who remembers falling off the bed, face masks, far too many cigarettes and chasing?!) and the flawless Notting Hill. Rhys Ifans is sheer comedy brilliance ("I have a joke that will make your balls shrink to the size of raisins!"- amazing) and is such a brilliant addition to the film. Roberts plays a successful actress like herself alongside Hugh Grant, the unlucky in love and hopeless romantic who has trouble climbing a fence, let alone maintaining a successful, long-term relationship. 

Another (possibly all time) favourite amongst Robert's films, is the brilliantly directed and hugely critically acclaimed, Erin Brockovich, which based on a true story, tells the gripping (and sometimes amusing) tale of a woman who will stop at nothing whilst investigating the operation of a town's water board. Failing to obtain healthy standards and neglecting it's maintenance is causing the serious illnesses of young children and ripping apart the lives of many families living nearby. Although she has personal problems of her own and people preventing from doing her job, she lets nothing get in her way and fights for her beliefs and the small town until eventually, justice is done and those affected get the compensation they deserve. Seriously amazing viewing. No other actress could have played it as well as Roberts.

Like many of Robert's films, for me, Closer (interestingly swiveling around just the four main characters played by Natalie Portman, Jude Law and the handsome Clive Owen) and Mona Lisa Smile stand out. They both deal with controversial issues, confronting them truthfully and powerfully, in the same way the language brings this to life on screen.

Roberts is beautiful, hard-working and an inspiration, certainly to young actresses who want to become successful in film, aspiring to one day become as great an actress as she. Her expression and emotion shown on screen are the attributes which I feel prove her such talent as an actress and every character she plays, she does so with such vigour, making for a good film. She has always been my favourite and I imagine, always will be.

Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)

Self-Defense is not murder.

Closer (2004)

If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking.

Notting Hill (1999)

Can the most famous film star in the world fall for just an ordinary guy? 

 

Erin Brockovich (2000) 

She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees. 

Mona Lisa Smile (2003) 

In a world that told them how to think, she showed them how to live.

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

It's about finding the love of your life. And deciding what to do about it.

Pretty Woman (1990)

Who knew it was so much fun to be a hooker?

Roberts is starring as the Evil Queen in new film The Brother's Grimm: Snow White, alongside Lily Collins as Snow White. 

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It's Hopping Mad!

       

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It seems everyone and I mean everyone, is getting into the Easter spirit (look out for the Ann Summer's Easter-themed advertising of their best-selling 'toy', who are even using it to their advantage, as they do the festive season). The May issue of Tatler was delightfully laden with all things rabbit and brilliantly amusing pieces related to such creatures. I adore the cover- Natalia Vodianova looking as incredible as ever (even after 3 children- there are no excuses!) with the cutest bunny ears and the colour combination- hazy grey mixed with pastel yellow and blue lettering- perfect for spring and of course, Easter time. I am getting excited for my big bag of crisps- yes, you heard right- crisps. I don't have a sweet tooth at all and a teeny tiny Celebration is enough sweetness for me in one sitting thank-you very much. Plus, I am off to New York next week as part of a Uni trip in collaboration with the Parson's new school, in which I am mirroring a student there- a talented young designer named Paige Kettering and my time has been filled with shopping for this. My new purchases include a Missoni scarf which was a complete bargain and Russell & Bromley tasseled brogues. I have not shopped like I have done over the past few weeks, in years and to be honest, it felt really good. Plus, I am glad I am not in England for the Royal Wedding because I truly am sick of hearing about it. That aside, Easter is a great time of the year and the sun shining makes everyone that little bit happier. Tatler made me happy this month and this as well as the sunshine, shopping, preparation for New York, reading a fair amount about bunnies (and eating some crisps, of course) has landed me amongst the Easter spirit filling the air- and magazines...




                                                     Tatler Nov 1988 (Jessica Rabbit, whom I am named after)

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BACK FOR GOOD.

Wow, it's been a while since I have posted anything on here! It's just I have been so busy, what with work experience during the middle of last month and back to Uni at the end. Plus, a birthday, christening, family move-in and my Dad's return from the Himalayas were all crammed into one hectic weekend.


And, the not-so-sweet icing on the cake...


...loss of the world wide web. Oh, the horror!


But it's back and finallllllly I can share with you a little snippet of my fab week at Tatler magazine.




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