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Julia Roberts, one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars, is often remembered for her glamorous roles and her radiant smile that lit up the big screen in films like Pretty Woman and Notting Hill. But in 2013, audiences and onlookers got to see a very different side of the actress when she took on the role of Barbara Weston in the film August: Osage County.
At 44, Roberts looked almost unrecognizable on set while filming emotional scenes in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, alongside her co-star Ewan McGregor. Far removed from her usual red-carpet elegance, the actress stripped herself of makeup and embraced a wardrobe of simple, dowdy clothing designed to reflect the gritty realism of her character’s struggles.
In these scenes, Roberts wore a plain white shirt layered over a cream top, paired with loose-fitting blue jeans. Her long brunette hair was left unstylish and unpolished, a deliberate contrast to the glamorous locks audiences often associate with her. The look was necessary for her role as Barbara Weston, a woman caught in the storm of family dysfunction after her alcoholic father goes missing.
On one particularly intense day of filming, Roberts was seen alongside McGregor as they shot a heart-wrenching sequence by a boat dock. The pair’s characters were led by a Sheriff to identify a body, believed to be Barbara’s missing father. As the Sheriff uncovered the reality, Roberts’ performance turned raw and emotional. She burst into tears, hysterical with grief, while McGregor’s character, Bill Fordham, took her into his arms, holding her as she cried.
The scene was heavy with tension, the type of emotionally draining material that has defined many of Roberts’ most acclaimed performances. But in between takes, the actress proved once again why she has charmed audiences for decades. Despite just delivering a harrowing act, she was spotted laughing and joking with her co-stars, her natural warmth breaking through the intensity of the moment. Julianne Nicholson, who also stars in the film, appeared to share a joke that had Roberts and others smiling in between their grueling work.
This duality—her ability to dive into sorrow one moment and radiate joy the next—has long been part of Roberts’ allure as both a performer and a person. On set, she wasn’t the polished Hollywood star people often imagine but rather a professional actor dedicated to her craft while still keeping the atmosphere light when the cameras weren’t rolling.
Nicholson, best known at the time for her role in Boardwalk Empire, was also dressed down for the production. She wore a blue shirt with brown flared trousers, her hair tied back into a simple ponytail. The cast, stripped of glamour, leaned fully into the realism of August: Osage County, a story that revolves around raw human emotion rather than Hollywood polish.
The ensemble of the film was impressive, boasting an all-star cast that included Benedict Cumberbatch as Little Charles Aiken, Juliette Lewis as Karen Weston, Abigail Breslin as Jean Fordham, and, of course, Meryl Streep in the powerhouse role of Violet Weston, the matriarch of the family. Streep’s commanding presence paired with Roberts’ emotional depth created a dynamic mother-daughter portrayal that became one of the highlights of the film.
Casting for the movie went through several shifts before the final lineup was locked in. Renée Zellweger and Andrea Riseborough were both considered for roles at different stages. Riseborough was initially cast but had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts, leading to Juliette Lewis stepping into the role of Karen. Rising star Chloë Grace Moretz auditioned for the part of Jean Fordham but ultimately lost out to Abigail Breslin, whose youthful talent added another layer of intensity to the cast.
Directed by John Wells, August: Osage County is based on Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play. The story dives deep into the fractured dynamics of a family forced to confront its dysfunction after tragedy. Roberts’ role as Barbara Weston required her to embody a woman torn between love, frustration, and the responsibility of holding her family together while simultaneously wrestling with her own emotional wounds.
The transformation Roberts underwent for the role—both physical and emotional—highlighted her willingness to step outside the glamorous typecasting that had often surrounded her career. While audiences loved her in romantic comedies and dramas where she dazzled with charisma and style, August: Osage County showed a different kind of power. It emphasized grit over glamour, restraint over charm, and raw emotion over polish.
Behind the camera, Roberts’ life was equally full. At the time, she was raising her three children with her husband, cinematographer Daniel Moder. Balancing motherhood with a demanding career in Hollywood was no easy feat, yet Roberts managed to ground herself in both worlds. Her off-screen role as a mother often informed her performances, bringing an added depth to characters like Barbara Weston who navigate family complexity under extreme circumstances.
Though the filming took place over a decade ago, it remains a significant reminder of Roberts’ range and dedication. She didn’t shy away from appearing ordinary or vulnerable. Instead, she embraced those qualities to deliver a performance that was authentic, layered, and unforgettable.
For fans, seeing Roberts transform so completely was both startling and refreshing. It reaffirmed her position not only as a beloved movie star but also as a serious actress willing to take risks in service of the story. August: Osage County may not have been a glossy romantic comedy, but it captured the essence of Roberts’ talent: the ability to draw audiences into the deepest parts of human experience.