Raised in Smyrna, Georgia

Moved to NYC immediately after high school graduation; lived with sister Lisa; worked briefly as a Click model

Made film acting debut in "Blood Red," co-starring brother Eric (released regionally in USA March 1989)

TV debut in "The Survivor" episode of NBC's "Crime Story"

First released film, "Satisfaction"

Appeared in first TV-movie, "Baja Oklahoma" (HBO)

Played first leading film role in "Mystic Pizza"

Received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination as Shelby, the doomed diabetic bride in "Steel Magnolias"

Breakthrough screen performance, the title role in "Pretty Woman"; garnered Best Actress Academy Award nomination; first screen pairing with Richard Gere under the direction of Garry Marshall

Starred as an abused wife on the run from her husband in the surprise hit "Sleeping With the Enemy"

Played Tinkerbell in Steven Spielberg's "Hook"

Appeared as herself (in a movie-within-the-movie) in Robert Altman's "The Player"

Formed a two year semi-exclusive production deal between her own YMA Productions and Joe Roth's Caravan Pictures

Starred opposite Denzel Washington in "The Pelican Brief"

Formed Shoelace Productions

Had rare box office disappointment teamed with Nick Nolte in "I Love Trouble"

Guest-starred in an episode of the hit NBC sitcom "Friends"

Took on a dramatic role as the British maid to Dr. Jekyll in "Mary Reilly"

Portrayed Kitty Kiernan, erstwhile lover to "Michael Collins" in Neil Jordan's biopic of the Irish patriot

Co-starred in the Woody Allen directed musical comedy, "Everyone Says I Love You" as Allen's love interest; also sang on the soundtrack, "All My Life"

Had box-office hit with the comedy "My Best Friend's Wedding"

Formed Shoelace Productions

Appeared as herself in an episode of the CBS sitcom "Murphy Brown"

Narrated and appeared in the PBS' special "In the Wild: Orangutans With Julia Roberts"

Producing debut, "Stepmom"; played the title role of Ed Harris' young girlfriend competing with his ex-wife (Susan Sarandon)

Made rare TV dramatic guest appearance on an episode of "Law & Order"; garnered an Emmy nomination

Starred opposite Hugh Grant in the romantic comedy "Notting Hill"

Reteamed with Garry Marshall and Richard Gere for "Runaway Bride"

Won an Academy Award for her role as "Erin Brokovich," a based on fact tale of a legal secretary who championed a case of water poisoning into a class action lawsuit

Co-starred with Brad Pitt in "The Mexican"

Played a personal assistant to a movie star in "America's Sweethearts"

Was featured in Steven Soderbergh's remake of "Ocean's Eleven"

Starred with Blair Underwood in the Steven Soderbergh directed "Full Frontal"

Reunited with Clooney for "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" which he also directed

Played a free-spirited teacher at a women-only college in "Mona Lisa Smile"

Starred with Jude Law in Mike Nichols' "Closer" an adaption of the broadway play

Returned with the original cast for "Ocean's Twelve" directed by Steven Soderbergh

Executive produced the "An American Girl" movies, which aired on the Disney channel; based on the popular American Girl dolls and books

Made her stage debut in the Broadway revival of Richard Greenberg's play, "Three Days of Rain"

Voiced the title character in live-action/computer-animated feature film "Charlotte's Web," based on the book by E.B. White

Re-teamed with director Mike Nichols for "Charlie Wilson's War" playing a Texan socialite opposite Tom Hanks; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture