Julia Roberts Was A 'Runaway Bride' In Real Life — A Look Back At Her Dating History

Jan 10, 2022 by apost team

Julia Roberts has been one of the top leading ladies in Hollywood since she starred in the 1990 film “Pretty Woman,” which is still one of the roles she is most remembered for. The star has received numerous accolades for her acting, including an Academy Award and three Golden Globes. 

But despite being one of the most famous people in the world, the actress does her best to keep herself and her family away from the public eye. In keeping with her private nature, Roberts didn't marry another celebrity, instead, she married cinematographer Daniel Moder in 2002.

The couple met on the set of the movie “The Mexican,” where Moder had been a cameraman and Roberts the leading lady. Together they have three children — twins Phinnaeus and Hazel, 16, and a son named Henry, 14.

Clearly in love with her husband of nearly two decades, the actress even opened up to Gwyneth Paltrow on her "Goop" podcast in 2018 to talk about her marriage, among other topics. She said, "truly, to this day, to this minute, (Moder) is just my favorite human. I'm more interested in what he has to say or his point of view just more than anybody." 

But before Roberts found her soul mate and settled down to start a family, she dated a number of famous men over the years and was even engaged to a few of them, on top of her first marriage to singer Lyle Lovett. That gives her hit romantic comedy "Runaway Bride" a whole new meaning!

From former co-stars, Liam Neeson and Dylan McDermott, to her four-year relationship with Benjamin Bratt, Roberts' dating history includes a bevy of famous faces. Let's take a look at the Oscar winner's dating history.

Early in her career, Roberts appeared in the 1988 movie "Satisfaction" with Neeson, about an all-girl rock band. The two began dating and were together for over one year before they broke up. The couple's age gap was considerate, with Roberts 19 years old at the time while Neeson was 35 and had already established himself in Hollywood. "The Kitty Kelley Files: Julia Roberts" reported, as per The Irish Times, that the two were involved in a passionate affair that saw them move in together after only two weeks. Neeson would be the first of many relationships that Roberts had with her fellow leading men.

Soon after Roberts ended her relationship with Neeson, she began dating McDermott in May 1988. The two met on the set of the movie "Steel Magnolias," in which, funnily enough, they portrayed newlyweds. In a case of life imitating art, Roberts and McDermott were engaged for much of their nearly two-year relationship but before they had a chance to say "I do," Roberts broke things off in 1990. This would be the first of a number of men the actress would be engaged to in her life. 

Just like how she met Neeson and McDermott, Roberts met Kiefer Sutherland when the two starred in "Flatliners" together. Their relationship began in April 1990 and after they dated for less than one year, they revealed their engagement. But similar to how her relationship with McDermott ended before the couple took a trip down the aisle, Roberts called off her wedding to Sutherland too. However, she did so a mere three days before the planned date of their wedding in June 1991.

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Controversially, it was reported at the time that on the day that Roberts was meant to wed Sutherland, she actually flew off with actor Jason Patric, who happened to be a good friend of Sutherland's. The pair jetted off to Ireland and although they enjoyed a whirlwind romance, they split up by 1992.

With two failed engagements, Roberts would finally settle down and get married to musician and actor Lyle Lovett. The two had an immediate connection when they met on the set of "The Player" in 1992. By June 1993, they had tied the knot, which marked Roberts' first successful marriage. However, it wasn't meant to be, and by March 1995 the couple had divorced.

After her divorce from Lovett, Roberts was linked to "Friends" star Matthew Perry between 1995 to 1996, however, there isn't much information about their union. Their relationship was said to have started when Roberts guest-starred in an episode of "Friends" in 1994, which, is consistent with her pattern of dating co-stars. Nevertheless, the couple didn't last.

Fans of Roberts will surely remember her relationship with actor Benjamin Bratt — after all, she thanked him publicly when she won her Oscar in 2001 for "Erin Brockovich." In fact, their relationship is one of her longest romances as they were together for nearly four years. It's reported that the actress first met Bratt while she was at a restaurant in Nov. 1997, before they were introduced by friends. Although they appeared to be in it for the long haul, they ended up splitting in June 2001. 

After being a runaway bride for much of her 20s — which included one marriage and multiple engagements that she ended — Roberts finally found the one when she met Daniel Moder. Although Moder isn't an actor like most of her other exes, he and Roberts did meet on a movie set. A cameraman, Moder had worked on "The Mexican," the 2001 movie in which Roberts starred alongside Brad Pitt. 

However, there was a small issue before the couple got together — Moder was still married to his first wife Vera Steimberg when he and Roberts met. Nevertheless, Moder ended his marriage soon after and their love proved to be the real deal. By June 2002 the couple got married — there was no more running away for this bride! A few years after their wedding the couple expanded their family to include twins Phinnaeus and Hazel, 16, and a son named Henry, 14.

It's clear from the few times Roberts has let the public into her relationship that what she shares with Moder is incredibly special. In the same interview with Gwyneth Paltrow, she said:

"Really, we're so lucky in that way. We just really, really like each other and we just enjoy each other’s company."

What's more, an insider spoke to Closer Weekly last year and said that "(They) truly feel like soulmates." They added that the couple is "committed to staying together for the long haul, whatever it takes.” 

It's wonderful to see that Roberts' marriage to Moder has lasted nearly 20 years and we wish them all the best in their future together! 

Did you know that Julia Roberts was a runaway bride in real life, with her multiple engagements and first marriage prior to settling down with her second husband Daniel Moder? Pass this on to those you know so they can read about it too!