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Julia Roberts, one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars, is no stranger to transformations. But during filming of the drama August: Osage County in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the actress looked worlds away from the glamorous figure audiences remember as Vivian Ward in the 1990 romantic hit Pretty Woman.

At 44, Roberts was immersed in her role as Barbara Weston, a character weighed down by family tensions, grief, and years of unresolved conflict. For the part, she shed her usual Hollywood polish. Her long brunette hair, usually styled to perfection, hung loosely with no visible effort. Her wardrobe—simple jeans, layered shirts, and cream-toned tops—was practical and unflattering, reflecting the raw realism of the film. Even her face, often the focus of red carpet cameras, was left stripped of glamour and free of makeup, a canvas for emotion rather than beauty.

The scene being filmed that day was among the most emotionally charged in the story. Roberts and her co-star Ewan McGregor, playing her estranged husband Bill Fordham, walked side by side down to a boat dock. There, they were tasked with identifying a dead body at the request of a sheriff, an encounter that tested their characters’ resilience and revealed the depths of their fractured relationship.

As the sheriff revealed the body, Roberts erupted into an emotional performance, bursting into tears in a raw portrayal of grief. McGregor’s character tried to comfort her, holding her hand and pulling her into his arms. Observers noted the sheer intensity of her acting—Roberts was hysterically distraught, her cries echoing the pain of someone facing unbearable loss.

Yet when the cameras stopped rolling, the mood shifted. Roberts, ever the professional, broke into laughter between takes, her natural warmth surfacing as the cast shared lighter moments to balance the weight of the story they were telling. Fellow cast member Julianne Nicholson, who plays Ivy Weston, joined in, joking with Roberts and McGregor as the group shared smiles before returning to the heavy material at hand.

A Dowdy Transformation

The transformation was striking. Known for her radiant smile and glamorous style, Roberts deliberately downplayed every aspect of her appearance to embody Barbara Weston, the eldest daughter of a troubled Oklahoma family. Her clothing was deliberately ordinary—faded denim, layered tops, and muted colors that reflected a life weighed down by responsibility rather than style.

The same was true for her co-stars. Nicholson’s Ivy, dressed plainly in flared trousers and a buttoned shirt, wore her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail, signaling her character’s quiet, restrained demeanor. The overall aesthetic of the cast reflected the bleak, grounded reality of a family drama rather than the polished spectacle of Hollywood glitz.

This authenticity was essential to the film, which adapts Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize–winning play of the same name. Set in rural Oklahoma, August: Osage County explores the unraveling of a family after the disappearance of its alcoholic patriarch, Beverly Weston. His absence forces the family’s three daughters and their partners back into the family home, where buried tensions resurface in explosive confrontations.

An Ensemble Cast

The film brought together an impressive ensemble of talent. Alongside Roberts and McGregor were Meryl Streep as Violet Weston, the domineering and sharp-tongued matriarch; Benedict Cumberbatch as the tender-hearted but awkward “Little” Charles Aiken; and Juliette Lewis as Karen Weston, the youngest daughter with dreams of escape.

Casting changes also made headlines during the film’s production. Andrea Riseborough, originally cast as Karen, dropped out due to scheduling conflicts, leading to Juliette Lewis stepping in. Renée Zellweger had also been considered for a role but did not join the final cast. Rising star Chloë Grace Moretz auditioned for the role of Jean Fordham, Barbara’s teenage daughter, but the part ultimately went to Abigail Breslin, who brought her own intensity to the troubled character.

For Roberts, the chance to play Barbara meant diving into some of the most difficult and complex material of her career. Barbara is not a character audiences are meant to idolize or envy; she is flawed, vulnerable, and caught in the middle of a collapsing marriage and a toxic family dynamic. The choice to take on such a role underscored Roberts’ range and her willingness to move far beyond the romantic leads that had defined much of her early career.

Behind the Scenes

Though the subject matter was heavy, behind the scenes there were moments of levity. During filming of the dockside sequence, Roberts was spotted sharing jokes with McGregor and Nicholson. Crew members noted how quickly she could shift gears—from tearful breakdowns in front of the camera to laughter and ease the moment “cut” was called.

That balance helped keep spirits up during what was otherwise a grueling shoot. The film was shot largely on location in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where the cast lived and worked in close quarters. The raw setting contributed to the authenticity of the story but demanded emotional stamina from everyone involved.

Roberts herself has spoken in past interviews about the challenges of playing characters so rooted in pain. The difference between acting and real life, however, is that when the cameras stop, she returns to her own family. In reality, Roberts is married to cinematographer Daniel Moder, with whom she shares three children. Known for keeping her personal life largely private, she has often described motherhood as her most cherished role.

Critical Anticipation

Even before its release, August: Osage County generated significant buzz. With a Pulitzer Prize–winning source material, an acclaimed director, and a cast filled with award-winning performers, expectations were high. Roberts’ unglamorous transformation was particularly notable, reminding critics and fans alike that she was not only a star but also a serious actress capable of disappearing into character.

The story’s themes—grief, addiction, betrayal, and reconciliation—resonated with audiences, offering both painful realism and a darkly comic edge. For Roberts, the role of Barbara Weston would go on to earn her critical acclaim, including nominations for both the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.

A Departure From Glamour

Seeing Roberts on set that day—her hair messy, her clothes dowdy, her face bare of makeup—was a reminder that great acting is not about looking glamorous but about truth. In Barbara Weston, Roberts channeled the heartbreak, anger, and strength of a woman struggling to hold her family together while it unraveled around her.

It was a far cry from her star-making role in Pretty Woman more than two decades earlier, when she dazzled audiences with her smile and charisma. But it was also a sign of growth: an actress who continues to take risks, embracing roles that challenge both her and her audience.

As Roberts laughed between takes with McGregor and Nicholson, she reminded everyone watching that even in the middle of portraying tragedy, there can be moments of humanity and light. That balance—between sorrow and laughter, between reality and performance—is what has made Julia Roberts not only a star but an artist still evolving after more than three decades in film.

Conclusion

On that cold Oklahoma day, Julia Roberts may have looked unrecognizable, stripped of Hollywood glamour and immersed in her role. But her performance in August: Osage County proved once again why she remains one of the most respected and enduring actors of her generation.

The laughter between takes, the tears on camera, and the transformation into Barbara Weston all pointed to the same truth: Roberts is an actress willing to bare her soul for her craft. And in doing so, she continues to captivate audiences—not with glamour, but with authenticity.