Julia Roberts is one of the most marketable actors in the world today. Since she started her career in 1987, she has featured in films that have raked in nearly $4.2 billion at the box office. That is only in roles that were either leading, supporting, or leading within an ensemble cast.
What is more impressive is that many of the stars who have done better than her in this regard have done so within franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Roberts is mostly known for her work in rom-coms. Some of her most successful films in the genre include Runaway Bride, Notting Hill and Pretty Woman.
Another one of her famous romantic comedies is Valentine’s Day, which featured an impressive ensemble cast and was released in 2010.
Although the movie was successful at the box office, it was very negatively received by critics. Four of Roberts’ colleagues were even nominated for “Worst Actor,” “Worst Supporting Actor” and “Worst Supporting Actress” at the Golden Raspberry Awards that year.
Incredibly, in order to commit to her part in Valentine’s Day, Roberts was forced to say no to a role that would eventually win an Oscar.
Julia Roberts Turned Down A Role In The Blind Side
As the years counted down towards 2010, Julia Roberts was arguably hitting the peak of her status as the queen of rom-coms. Unsurprisingly, she was being offered roles left, right and center – a lot of which she would turn down.
At some point between 2005 and 2007, she was offered the leading female part in Anne Fletcher’s The Proposal. She refused to sign on, and Sandra Bullock was hired instead, to play the role alongside Ryan Reynolds. The movie turned out to be a sensational success both commercially and critically, with Bullock even receiving a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
It was a similar story a few years later, when Roberts was approached by John Lee Hancock to star in his biographical sports drama The Blind Side. The film would be based on the real-life story of former NFL star Michael Oher, although the athlete would later express displeasure at how he was depicted in it.
Once again, Roberts said no to the offer, and Bullock stepped in instead.
Sandra Bullock Had Also Refused To Star In The Blind Side
As was the case with The Proposal, Julia Roberts’ decision to say no to a role in The Blind Side did not turn out so well. Produced on a budget of around $29 million, the film went on to gross well in excess of $300 million at the box office.
There was a mixed reaction from critics on the movie overall, but Sandra Bullock received universal acclaim. For her star turn performance, The Hope Floats star went on to win an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Guild Actors Award, among many others.
It was an overwhelming success for Bullock, who had also initially refused to feature in the movie. The character offered to her and Roberts was Leigh Anne Tuohy, Michael Oher’s adoptive mother who raised him and helped him achieve the dream of playing in the NFL.
Bullock’s reluctance to play Leigh Anne was because of her staunch religious background, an element that the actress felt she could not authentically bring to the screen. It was only after the two met that she changed her mind, and even took a pay cut to star in the movie.
What Role Did Julia Roberts Play In Valentine’s Day?
Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock’s careers were overlapping so much in that period of time, that even fans started to mistake the two stars for each other. At the end of the day, however, the individual success that both have had would somehow justify the choices that they made.
For Roberts, turning down a role in The Blind Side meant going on to star in Valentine’s Day, which was a lot more down her alley at the time.
According to its official synopsis on the Apple TV website, the movie told “a series of interconnected stories, [where] various Los Angeles residents wend their way through the highs and lows of love during a single day. As the holiday unfolds, they experience first dates, longtime commitments, youthful crushes and connections to old flames.”
Roberts’ character in the film was known as Katherine “Kate” Hazeltine, a U.S. Army captain. She is spending her one-day leave flying across the country to see someone she loves, who is eventually revealed to be her son, Edison (Bryce Robinson).