Roberts Asks Newman's Widow for Advice

4 months ago 11th Jun 06:30

Julia Roberts turned to Paul Newman's widow Joanne Woodward to help calm her nerves before stepping onstage at a New York benefit this week (08Jun09) to lead a touching tribute to the late actor.

Roberts celebrated Newman's memory at Manhattan's Lincoln Center on Monday at a fundraising gala in aid of the legendary star's Hole in the WallCamps, an organization founded by the actor in 1988 to help children with serious and life-threatening illnesses.

I called Joanne Woodward, his lovely wife, and said, 'What do we do? What do I talk about?' and she said, 'Just the fun that we had, that we all had, and that he really enjoyed his life.'

The actress, who served as a counsellor at the organization's summer camps over 13 years ago, took to the podium and revealed she had called Woodward earlier in the day to ask if there was anything specific she should mention in her speech.

Roberts recalls, "I called Joanne Woodward, his lovely wife, and said, 'What do we do? What do I talk about?' and she said, 'Just the fun that we had, that we all had, and that he really enjoyed his life.'" Newman lost his battle with cancer in September (08), at the age of 83.