Julia Roberts Talks Duplicity

22 July 2009

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Oscar winner Julia Roberts describes working on writer/ director Tony Gilroy’s romantic caper Duplicity, which reunites her with her friend and former co-star Clive Owen, as a ‘dream scenario.”

You worked with Clive on Closer. Did you both decide then that you wanted to work together again?

They paid me loads (laughs) No, I’m kidding, if we can do a movie like Closer and do those scenes together and still be friends I think we deserve to be able to revisit that professional relationship with a bit more fun dialogue.

 You’re a working mother. Do you plan work around your family?

I still get to pack mine up with me. Duplicity was an ideal situation because we filmed most of it in New York so my older kids were in school and my baby was with me - it was really a dream scenario.

It’s the 20th anniversary of Pretty Woman..

Really? I’m well preserved (laughs)

What would the Julia of 1990 make of the career she has subsequently had?

I wouldn’t have believed it. I still barely do, truthfully. I’m so continually fortunate that I keep coming across these smart, interesting, creative people who pick me - it’s just stupendous.

 Is there any advice you would give your younger self?

No, I think I made really solid decisions; I would stand by them all over again.

Tony Gilroy said that he was a little nervous about working with you…

He seemed very intimidated and he still does! (laughs). No, I don’t think he was ever nervous, I think somebody has re-interpreted his words. If I know Tony as well as I think I do, he wasn’t nervous.

 Is it preferable to act with someone you know and trust like Clive Owen?

I prefer to act with friends, I mean you start of as strangers always with someone, but to really find a relationship that you enjoy personally and creatively, it’s fantastic.

 You haven’t made too many films in recent years. Do you feel like you have been away?

I don’t but I guess a lot of you do. I think it’s sweet, I think you missed me.

The film features some incredible locations and the sequences in Rome are especially striking. What was it like filming there?

It was amazing filming in Rome.  That was the end of the road for us on our shooting schedule and it was so beautiful and cinematic, you really kind of feel you are in the middle of a dream.  The people were really accommodating and nice and we didn’t really draw huge crowds. The people in Italy seemed to have places to go – and we started at 4 o’clock in the morning so we were wrapping early.

 You’re one of the biggest film stars in the world and that brings a lot of attention. Has your level of trust shifted?

No it hasn’t. I’m a really trusting person and I always have been. I think I’ve cultivated a very keen skill of recognising someone I shouldn’t trust, pretty readily. A person has about 15 to 27 seconds before I’m pretty sure whether or not I can trust them.

 You’re back in London for the premier of Duplicity. Does that make you think of when you made Notting Hill?

I loved (writer) Richard Curtis, I loved making Notting Hill, it was such a sweet movie and when I come to London I guess I think of all the fun things that we did, and Roger Michell (director, Notting Hill).  That whole time was lovely so I have great feelings when I come here - and I love the rain (laughs).

 You’ve talked before about how George Clooney likes to play practical jokes when you worked with him. Were there any pranks on the set of Duplicity?

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