While filming August: Osage County with Ewan McGregor in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 44-year-old Julia Roberts was nearly unrecognizable. The glamorous Pretty Woman star transformed completely, stripping off makeup and donning a dowdy outfit to portray Barbara Weston, a woman grappling with family turmoil and grief. Clad in a loose white shirt layered over a cream top and baggy jeans, with her brunette hair unstyled, Julia embodied the role with raw intensity.
In a gripping scene, Barbara and Ewan McGregor’s character, Bill Fordham, approached a boat dock to identify a body. As the sheriff watched, Julia delivered a heart-wrenching performance, breaking into sobs and collapsing into Ewan’s arms. Despite the emotional weight, off-camera Julia shared laughter with co-stars, particularly Julianne Nicholson, who kept the mood light between takes.
Nicholson, like Roberts, dressed plainly for her role—blue shirt, brown flared trousers, and a simple ponytail. The film also stars Meryl Streep as Violet Weston and Benedict Cumberbatch as Little Charles Aiken. Interestingly, Chloë Moretz auditioned for Jean Fordham but lost the part to Abigail Breslin in this fiercely competitive ensemble drama.
