Julia Roberts turns 55: Look back at the most stunning photos of the actress early in her career

By Jessica Wedemeyer 9:57am PDT, Oct 29, 2022

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Happy birthday, Julia Roberts! The Oscar-winning actress turns 55 on Oct. 28, 2022. To mark the occasion, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at the most wildly stunning photos of the "Pretty Woman" star from early in her career in the '80s and '90s — from gorgeous on-screen moments to snaps of the beauty IRL that totally blew us away. Let's start with this shot of the starlet leaving the "Miss Firecracker" premiere in New York City on April 25, 1989, when she was just 21.

Now keep reading for more of the most wildly stunning photos of Julia early in her career…

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Julia Roberts raised temperatures in a truly iconic ensemble — a skintight black miniskirt attached to a cropped pink tank and patent-leather over-the-knee boots — while posing with co-star Richard Gere in a promotional photo for the movie that put her on the map: 1990's "Pretty Woman."

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Gorgeous! Julia Roberts looked practically perfect in an off-the-shoulder wedding gown in "Runaway Bride." It's one of many wedding dresses her on-screen alter ego sports in the 1999 rom-com. Of course, it wasn't the first time the actress portrayed a bride on her wedding day…

RELATED: Iconic movie wedding dresses

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Julia Roberts looked simply stunning while portraying a young bride in 1989's "Steel Magnolias."

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And now for something different… In the 1997 rom-com "My Best Friend's Wedding," Julia Roberts practically showed up the bride (played by Cameron Diaz) in a lilac bridesmaid dress.

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Julia Roberts looked jaw-droppingly gorgeous with her signature auburn mane in natural curls and hardly any makeup while in Berlin on Feb. 10, 1990.

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Julia Roberts rarely shows skin off set, but she flaunted just a hint of her taut tummy (while wearing a top featuring black-and-white horizontal stripes and drawstring pants featuring black-and-white vertical stripes) at the ShoWest Convention in Las Vegas on March 8, 1993.

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Julia Roberts flaunted her fit figure in a black one-piece swimsuit with a plunging neckline in 1990's "Pretty Woman."

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Julia Roberts looked stunning — even in a simple plaid button-down! — in 1989's "Steel Magnolias."

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Julia Roberts — rocking loose-fitting menswear, natural curls and her signature megawatt smile — beamed while posing with her award for best supporting movie actress for her work in "Steel Magnolias" during the 1990 Golden Globes.

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Twice as nice! For the second year in a row, Julia Roberts donned a menswear-inspired look and a megawatt smile while picking up her award during the Golden Globes. During the 1991 Globes, she sported an adorable layered 'do while claiming the award for best actress in a musical or comedy for her work in "Pretty Woman."

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Julia Roberts rocked her birthday suit — and a killer grin! — while taking a bubble bath in the 1990 rom-com "Pretty Woman."

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Julia Roberts looked white-hot in a long-sleeved minidress while walking barefoot on the beach in the 1991 thriller "Sleeping With the Enemy."

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Julia Roberts brought sexy back in a mushroom-colored gown with an open back during the 1990 Oscars, which she attended with then-fiancé Kiefer Sutherland.

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Julia Roberts famously rocked a blonde wig during her early scenes as prostitute Vivian Ward in 1990's "Pretty Woman."

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A raven-haired Julia Roberts looked svelte in a curve-hugging burgundy gown at the 1998 BAFTA Awards in London. Now let's take a closer look…

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Julia Roberts' warm brown eyes sparkled when she wore her hair in a dark brunette shade during the 1998 BAFTA Awards in London.

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Julia Roberts looked red-hot in a scarlet sweater that perfectly complemented her curly auburn mane in 1988's "Mystic Pizza."

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Even with platinum blonde locks, Julia Roberts was adorable! She wore her hair in the unexpected shade while attending the 1991 Oscars with then-fiancé Kiefer Sutherland.

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Julia Roberts rocked a natural hairdo, giant hoop earrings and her signature megawatt smile while portraying prostitute Vivian Ward in 1990's "Pretty Woman."