Celebrity News October 15, 2007
Julia Roberts Makes Her Long-Awaited Return to Hollywood
The star with the mega-watt smile was honored by the American Cinematheque in Beverly Hills on Friday, where celebs like Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington and Natalie Portman came out to toast the star for her contribution to film.
Laughing and glowing as she walked the red carpet, the “Pretty Woman's” slim body gave no indication that she'd given birth to son Henry just four months ago, in June.
“Spread the word that my baby is three weeks old,” she joked to “Extra” about her post-baby body.
Dressed in Diane Von Furstenberg, Julia opened up to “Extra” about what she's doing to stay so fit with three children at home.
“Well, that's the thing – three kids. You just chase after three kids,” she said, before admitting with a wink, “That and my dress is pulled so tight!”
Julia told “Extra” before her on stage appearance that she wanted her special night to turn into a roast, with her A-list pals teasing her in order to spice up the night.
“I hope so!” she said. “You've got to! I'd get bored to tears if they didn't.”
It turns out that pal Tom Hanks didn't disappoint.
“Welcome to the American Cinematheque Bar Mitzvah for Julia Roberts,” he said as the crowd erupted in laughter.
After taking several years off for motherhood, it took Tom to bring Julia back to the big screen for the upcoming drama, “Charlie Wilson's War.”
Julia said audiences can expect “fabulousness” when the film hits theaters in December.
Denzel Washington, Julia's leading man in the 1993 film “The Pelican Brief,” also gave Julia her wish and roasted her about her infamous multi-million dollar paychecks.
“Legend has it that for 'Ocean's 11,' George Clooney asked her what her normal fee was and she said, 'Twenty,'” Denzel recalled. “He sent her a script with a $20 bill attached to it!”
Later in the night, Sally Field said it was Julia's vocabulary that is priceless.
“Like me, she's not afraid to use them and let the bleeps fall where they may!” she joked.
After all the tributes, and with husband Danny Moder smiling proudly in the audience, what's a new mom to say?
“Is there a hungry baby in the house?” she joked as she grabbed her breasts, causing the audience to gasp and burst into laughter.
But Julia took a more serious turn when accepted her award and said, “I really am just a girl from a little town in Georgia, who had this giant, absurd dream.”