Julia Roberts Almost Turned Down This $364M Rom-Com Cult Classic: "What a Stupid Thing for Me to Do"

In the 1990s, Julia Roberts embodied the Hollywood dream – her name guaranteed box office success. After the resounding success of Pretty Woman, she received so many offers to star in romantic comedies that she stopped paying attention to them.

One day, she came across a script by Richard Curtis, the writer of the hit rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral – Roberts read it and wasn't impressed.

Julia Roberts Almost Passed on 'Notting Hill' After Reading Richard Curtis' Script

For Curtis, the most sought-after screenwriter in Hollywood after Four Weddings and a Funeral, choosing the leading lady for Notting Hill was a matter of principle.

He wrote the story of a humble bookstore owner and a Hollywood star who accidentally walks into his shop. Of course, he dreamed of casting the biggest star in the role.

When the script was sent to Julia Roberts, her reaction was, to put it mildly, lukewarm. She admitted that she only read it out of respect for Curtis' name. In a conversation with Vanity Fair, the actress recalled saying:

“How boring. How tedious, what a stupid thing for me to do.”

The actress later admitted that she would have thrown the script in the trash without hesitation if anyone else had written it. However, she trusted Curtis, even when the story itself seemed too easy and predictable. She said:

“F*ck, I'm gonna do this movie.”

And this choice became one of the most successful of her career.

'Notting Hill' Has That Timeless Magic That Made It a Classic of the Genre

Notting Hill is still one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time – and not just because of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant's star power. Richard Curtis, the world's last romantic, created a film that cures the blues and loneliness.

His signature style, a blend of lightness, sincerity, and self-irony, transforms even the most ordinary situations into something poetic.

Roberts and Grant have great chemistry, and the dialogue, filled with witty one-liners and understatement, has become a classic of the genre. Although Julia Roberts almost turned down the role, it's hard to imagine what the story would have been like if she had really said "no."

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Notting Hill'?

• Notting Hill has 84% from critics and 79% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.2/10.

• On Letterboxd, Notting Hill scored 3.7/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Notting Hill'?

Notting Hill is available to buy or rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.