“Julia Roberts’ Dream Life: Raising Kids on a Rustic Ranch with Her Spouse of 22 Years After Embracing Motherhood at 39”
Julia Roberts Is Living Her Dream with Kids & Spouse of 22 Years at Rustic Ranch after Becoming Mom at 39
After more than 20 years of marriage, Julia Roberts and her husband, a cinematographer, have managed to have a solid marriage. Additionally, she prioritized family over her work, taking a 20-year break from it when she was almost 40. The celebrity discreetly married her partner and leads a regular life with her family on a rural ranch.
Julia Roberts met her future husband, cameraman Daniel Moder, in the early spring of 2000 while working on the set of “The Mexican.” But at the time, both were in relationships. Daniel was married for four years to makeup artist Vera Steimberg Moder, while the actress dated fellow actor Benjamin Bratt.
The cinematographer’s marriage to his ex-wife was reportedly difficult, according to several close to his family, but the relationship he began to form with Julia encouraged him to file for divorce from Vera in June 2001.
When she was dating Benjamin, the “Pretty Woman” actress frequently visited the eateries and retail establishments around her flat in lower Manhattan; however, after their breakup, things took a turn for the worst. She was seldom ever spotted at her regular locations when she started seeing Daniel following his divorce.
The two, who had fallen in love, split their time between Daniel’s Los Angeles condominium and Julia’s over $5 million Taos property. In 1995, the actress purchased the property as a getaway from her life in Hollywood.
The celebrity led a modest lifestyle at the ranch, going for walks with her numerous pets, forming relationships with neighbors, getting takeout from Taos Cow, or dancing and flirting with Daniel at the Alley Cantina in the evenings. The couple’s relationship didn’t seem to be just a passing fling.
The pair was regarded as caring, dependable, and nonjudgmental by Julia’s purported acquaintance. Benjamin, who wed his “Piñero” co-star Talisa Soto in May 2002, spoke of his relationship with Julia during their courtship and how he never enjoyed her notoriety.
He once stated to Vanity Fair, “It’s like a fly that won’t leave you alone; it’s that mosquito that buzzes in your ear when you’re trying to sleep at night.”
But Daniel was different, a friend said, since he accepted and liked every “facet” of Julia’s identity. The companion praised the cinematographer for his encouragement and for showcasing the actress’s individuality.
Daniel was not as well-known as Julia was at the time, and it was unusual for a star of her stature to be dating a so-called “simple man.” Tabloids wrote about their romance as a result, but their love was unwavering, and Daniel showed he was prepared to deal with her popularity for the rest of his life.
Daniel Moder and Julia Roberts’ Unexpected Private Wedding
Julia invited people to her ranch on July 4, 2002, thinking it would be a late-night drink to “celebrate Independence Day.” Travelers took planes from Atlanta, Manhattan, and Los Angeles to the celebrity’s 82-acre property in New Mexico.
The visitors played football and hoops and ate homemade turkey prepared by Julia while lounging by the actress’s pool for hours that afternoon. A buddy described how the star told those who wished to sleep at night to stay still.
When midnight arrived, the small gathering was seated in a small religious meeting building on the grounds, with lawn chairs set up in a semicircle. It had lovely Chinese lanterns and candles all over it, creating a romantic atmosphere.
Abruptly, Daniel and Julia emerged onto a pink and white silk sheath arch. Most of the visitors realized what was going to happen when they walked to a circle covered in red, white, and pink rose petals.
As soon as they realized what was occurring, everybody began to shout! The actress accepted the cameraman’s proposal, putting her palms on her heart and yelling “yes” while the audience repeated the word with her!
A buddy reported that they felt as though they were eavesdropping on the entire event, which was intimate and amazing. Barry Hirsch, Julia’s attorney and close friend, oversaw the secret wedding between the then 34-year-old star and the 33-year-old cameraman.
There were no flower girls, groomsmen, bridesmaids, any other glitzy extras or famous guests at the modest wedding. Julia looked gorgeous in a pink cotton halter dress with hand-painted flowers and vintage beads and pearls.
During the 20-minute ceremony, the groom looked stunning in his tan slacks and scarlet shirt with ruffles. He and Julia exchanged handwritten vows. A glass broke in between, prompting one of the guests to yell, “Mazel Tov!” and startling everyone!
Throughout the ceremony, the devoted pair kissed and asked their guests to join them whenever possible! Following their nuptials, the actress took a 20-year hiatus from her career and gushed, “I was born to be the wife of this man.”
Julia was absolutely correct when she said that Daniel improved her second marriage! The celebrity put motherhood ahead of her profession after becoming a mother later in life.
Children of Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder
Julia’s spokeswoman disclosed that she and her husband were expecting twins in early 2005, just two years into their marriage. On November 28, 2004, however, at the age of 37, Hazel and Phinnaues Moder, twins, were born.
The actress clarified that “Hazel” was an outdated name, so she and Daniel decided to go with it for their kid. She also mentioned that although Daniel had wanted to name their son “Finn,” they decided that Phinnaues would be a better fit as it felt more like a nickname.
According to People magazine in 2006, Julia had made motherhood her “top priority”. “Three Days of Rain” producer and friend of the actress Marc Platt stated in an April of that year’s publication, “The kids bring her such a sense of fulfillment and joy.”
Marc added that he thought it was “wonderful” to witness. The actress announced her third pregnancy in December 2006, and the following year, at the age of 39, she gave birth to a son called Henry Daniel Moder.
When the newborn boy was born in Los Angeles, he weighed eight and a half pounds, and according to Julia’s spokeswoman, Marcy Engelman, the family was doing well. With their kids, the celebrity and her spouse led a calm and routine life on the ranch.
The Calm Ranch Life of Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder and Her Transition into Motherhood
While Julia didn’t post many pictures of her kids on Instagram, her husband gladly did, according to a 2013 USA Today article. In addition, she refrained from sharing her location on Twitter, and upon receiving a copy of J.D. Salinger’s short stories from a friend, the actress demonstrated her grounded nature.
According to the article, the celebrity personally wrote the pal a thank-you message on paper and sent it right away. Even though Julia used to be the highest-paid actress in the world, she managed to fade into obscurity.
She might travel to Manhattan, California, or her home in New Mexico. Once, Julia said, “We just want to have our family life and not have that intruded upon.” She and Daniel had designed their lives to help them safeguard their children.
The spouse of the cameraman added that she felt fortunate to be too old for the nonsense associated with the internet and the contemporary celebrity culture. She felt fortunate to have that and believed her advanced age had protected her from some things.
In an interview with “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2010, Julia mentioned how much she enjoyed getting up early and witnessing her kids’ reactions to a fresh day. She claimed that the three were still impressionable by everything.
The actress from “Eat, Pray, Love” also talked about how she made an effort to be “present” for each of her three children. The celebrity previously admitted on “Today” that she loved life and that her daily greatest accomplishment was getting all of her kids to use “the potty!”
A 2022 article in Architectural Digest stated that Julia’s Taos ranch served as her well-known residence. According to the publication, the actor kept the property as his second home, even though it was close to the Arroyo Seco enclave.
The “Erin Brockovich” actress, her spouse, and their kids were said to frequently visit the estate. Julia was a devoted wife who met her husband at work, and the residents of the Southwest claimed to run into her regularly at Target or the grocery store.
During an interview with InStyle in 2017, the actress talked about her experience becoming a mother. She talked about how, in order to prevent diaper rash in her infant children, she could not have survived without Balmex.
The “Wonder” star revealed her true self, stating that she couldn’t live without the product, that she enjoyed the way it smelled, and that it was “perfect.”
Julia gave a tactful response when asked what she would do if she witnessed a youngster engaging in inappropriate behavior on the playground: “It would depend on what they’re doing, but I would imagine I would say something.”
Her plan was to hint to the child that something wasn’t quite right. The actress added, “and then trip them!” in a comically abrupt way that caught the reporter off guard.
The celebrity advised using a firm parenting voice when asked how best to tell a youngster that they had crossed a line and would have to deal with the repercussions. But as the emotional turbulence subsided, she advocated for a “conscious conversation” about what transpired.
Having everyone eat supper together at the table is Julia’s suggestion for increasing quality time spent together as a family. Daniel’s wife said that she and her family had the most thought-provoking talks during that period and that she thought it was significant.
Danny shared a snapshot of his kids eating in what looked like a comfortable area with wooden furniture, a thick rug, and natural flooring on one of his social media posts. Hazel’s brother and she were both dressed in Wonder Woman apparel.
Going a little farther into her personal life, the celebrity revealed that she made it a point to spend breakfast and dinner with her kids. She thought that was how they were beginning things as a family, digesting the day’s experiences, and coming to an end as a group.
Julia also mentioned that, based on her own experience with Hazel, she believed that 12 was the ideal age for her kids to have a cell phone. But Julia acknowledged that she and Daniel hadn’t been certain about giving the child the phone, and Hazel had given clear and sincere reasons for wanting it.
The actress clarified that Hazel employed vulnerable honesty rather than a PowerPoint presentation—although she had previously employed that tactic—to persuade her parents. The young child just said what she needed. “We’ve got to get her a cell phone!” said Hazel’s mother in reaction, saying, “I was too in love with her at that moment.”
She also talked about how she carried her kids with her anytime she had to leave the house to avoid separation anxiety. In October 2020, Daniel’s spouse revealed her priorities in life at the age of 55 in an interview with Sunday Morning.
The celebrity acknowledged to the interviewer the importance of her family and work, but clarified that they weren’t on par. Julia said that she never felt like an actress “consumed” her.
She went on to further explain herself, saying that although acting was a “dream come true” for her, it wasn’t the only dream that had materialized. Upon being asked about her other goals, the mother of three cited her family as her top priority, stating, “The life that I’ve built with my husband.”
Julia Roberts also talked about how their life with their three kids was chosen. She enumerated the highlights, emphasizing how important it was to her to return home victorious to her family at the conclusion of the day.
