In 2000, Hollywood star Julia Roberts and cinematographer Danny Moder met while filming their movie “The Mexican.” Roberts was appearing opposite co-star Brad Pitt as his romantic interest, while Moder was working behind the scenes as a cameraman.
Initially, both were involved in personal relationships—Roberts was dating American actor Benjamin Bratt, while Moder was married to renowned cosmetics artist Vera Steimberg. A year later, Roberts parted ways with Bratt, while Moder formalized his divorce from Steimberg in 2002. They became official items shortly afterward.
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In an effort to prevent ugly storylines in their love chronology, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Roberts made it abundantly obvious that the two had taken care to close the chapters of their romantic relationships with their exes before being together.
Despite offering an account of only discovering love with each other once their prior relationships were terminated, according to an ex-close friend, Patricia Hilton, the two developed affection for each other while they were still dating other people. According to her, “Danny stated there was no battling what he felt for Julia; he would have moved mountains to be with her. After they were intimate, it was evident they had to be together.”
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Their connection was further complicated since, supposedly, Roberts was still connected with Bratt at the time. At some point, many people even anticipated that Roberts and Bratt might even end up getting married. Failing to ignore or hide her love for Moder any longer, in June 2001, Roberts decided to go to Montreal, where Bratt was filming his movie “Abandoned.”
According to insiders, Roberts sadly confessed her desire for someone else to Bratt while there. Hilton added that Roberts decided to do so because, though she still loved Bratt, she was no longer in love with him.
After overcoming their difficulties with their exes, Roberts and Moder ultimately achieved what they wanted and started a relationship. Danny moved out of the home he had with his ex-wife and into an apartment with his sister, Jyl Moder.
According to various stories, the Moder family did not like Roberts. Apparently, out of his entire family, only his late mother, Patricia Ann Watz, was approving and supportive of their relationship.
Watz’s explanation behind embracing the new couple’s love was based on the thought that life is too short not to live it how one wants to. A cousin of the Moder family stated, “Her view was that life is difficult, and she wasn’t going to stand in judgment of [the relationship].”
Photographers captured Roberts on March 22, 2002, as she sat outside the King’s Road Cafe in West Hollywood. The “Sleeping with the Enemy” actor was wearing a T-shirt with a graphic that read: A Low Vera. Allegedly, the T-shirt was making a remark against Moder’s ex-wife because it stated that his family preferred her for him instead of Roberts.
As described by another close acquaintance, the whole experience, compounded by the enigmatic message imbedded in the T-shirt, had offended Moder’s father—film producer Michael Moder, best known for “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Crimson Tide.” It had worried him since he liked Steimberg, and she had remained tight with the rest of the family as well.
In an effort to build a link with at least some members of the Moder clan, Roberts constructed a friendship with Moder’s other sister, Jane Moder. She had even gone to see Jane’s daughter’s second-grade class and spoke with her other classmates.
Meanwhile, Steinberg added fuel to the fire when she stated that Roberts had snatched her ex-husband. She also threatened that Moder had cheated on her and that he’d do the same to Roberts.
Stemberg was astonished to learn of Roberts’ marriage to her ex-husband in a New Mexico ceremony, barely a month after her divorce from him was finalized. She felt she would never be able to forgive Roberts for taking Moder away from her. The famous makeup artist cruelly added, “It won’t last with her anyhow. Julia Roberts will be seeking a new spouse within a year. Danny has a roaming eye, and he won’t change.”
Danny’s mother, Watz, unfortunately, passed unexpectedly at 59 years old from a heart attack minutes before the news of Roberts and Moder’s connection surfaced. As a consequence of the timing and tragedy, many of Moder’s family members accused Roberts of being the reason for Watz’s death.
They stated that Roberts’ participation in the collapse of Moder’s previous marriage became too much for Watz to endure and had strained her to no end. However, a close source came to Roberts’ defense and rejected the charges since Danny’s mom was, in reality, their lone ally in favor of their relationship.
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When it came time to organize for the funeral, an array of theories started to emerge regarding whether or not Steimberg would make an appearance and, if so, how this would play out with Roberts presumably in attendance. An unidentified insider had anticipated that Steimberg would end up fighting with Roberts since she made it apparent that she did not like the actress.
Moreover, the source stated Watz’s death took a toll on Moder and planted seeds of doubt in him, alleging: “He is saddened by his mother’s death. He cannot help wondering if the hubbub around his liaison with Julia may have contributed to this. He is inconsolable.”
Despite all the assumptions and charges, Roberts attended the burial with Moder in California. She had even arranged for additional security to protect the Moder family from being mobbed or tormented by the paparazzi.
In the aftermath of Watz’s demise, Roberts and Moder’s union, and the Moder clan’s critical attitude toward Roberts, the couple’s relationship became increasingly difficult. Some sources indicated that Moder had even begun to have problems adjusting to Roberts’ celebrity.
It was reported that Roberts herself had coldly advised Moder to cope with it and accept that being in the spotlight continually came with her as a package deal. Additional charges were made concerning Roberts making ridiculous assertions to her spouse about how wonderful of a star she is and how indifferent she was to his troubles.
Tensions had reached an all-time high when Moder’s dad remarried. Reportedly, Roberts was hesitant about going because of the terrible ties she has with several of his family members. Sources reported she attended but was ignored by all of Moder’s sisters except for Jyl, who, sources believe, had approached her.
According to numerous sources, Roberts and Jyl have always had a relationship entrenched in hatred for one another, and many of the couple’s disputes have been about Jyl. Apparently, anytime Jyl would require her brother’s aid with anything, Roberts would get between the two and stop Moder from assisting. Thus, it’s said that Jyl has always thought that Roberts had stolen her brother away from her.
In the same spirit, it’s been reported that Roberts thought Jyl had been the one to leak some unflattering facts about her and Moder’s relationship to the press as an act of retribution.
Roberts and Moder’s love has shown itself to be enduring after surviving the substantial and often insurmountable (for some) hardships they endured throughout their partnership.
To make matters worse, the couple’s relationship had worsened since Moder insisted on remaining in contact with his ex-wife, which angered Roberts. Family buddy Brian McNair reported: “Julia was angry about Vera and wanted her gone. It became the same conflict over and over again between her and Danny.”
However, sources indicated Roberts had underlined her intention not to allow Steimberg to come in between her and her husband. Sources said that the “Notting Hill” star even went so far as to suggest that she would be able to give Danny a baby, which is something Steimberg could not accomplish.
Moder and Roberts have been married for 21 years this year and have three children—Hazel, Phinneas, and Henry. The pair could not be happier with the loving family life they share now.
During an interview, Roberts talked about how wonderful their connections are with their children while describing one tale she particularly found humorous.
One of Moder’s films was showing at the Cannes Film Festival, and he decided to bring their daughter along. While getting dressed, Roberts FaceTimed her daughter, wondering what they were up to, and the two went back and forth about her not wanting to wear eyeliner to the premiere. She highlighted her favorite part as being the utter innocence of her child.
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For Roberts, despite her desire to become an actor has been more than achieved, it was not her sole dream, and she has never been preoccupied with it. When questioned about what her other dream has been, she answered, “The life that I’ve made with my spouse. The life that we’ve made with our children And that’s the nicest stuff, to return home at the end of the day triumphantly to them.”
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Roberts stated such sentiments while promoting her picture “Ticket to Paradise” alongside her longtime friend and fellow Hollywood star, George Clooney. The movie was filmed on location in Australia and required Roberts to be away from her family for 62 days, which she stated was the longest she’d ever been away from them.
She made it through by sending letters to her family, which she said was a typical activity for her and her husband. In fact, Roberts said that she stored away the first ever letter he sent to her, which was seven pages long. The celebrity also highlighted how she and her family liked making breakfast a family event, especially her and her youngest kid.
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In another interview with ENews!, Roberts and Clooney reviewed their movie and spoke about their real-life relationships. During the debate, the co-stars were questioned about what they felt the key to a good and enduring marriage was.
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When it came time to answer, both were in agreement. Roberts spoke first: “I usually say the same thing, and I’m sticking with it, even if I am repeating myself. It’s making out. Lots of making out.”
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For her buddy Clooney, that’s some pretty decent advice too. However, someone who wed comparatively later in life said, “I just kind of have to look at it as if I’m the luckiest human being and then just appreciate that.”
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Roberts and Moder’s love has shown itself to be enduring after surviving the substantial and often insurmountable (for some) hardships they endured throughout their partnership. Through all the accusations, claims, and confrontations, they went through the fire and made it out on the other side. They currently live a life of marital and familial bliss with their three children.