When Julia Roberts dropped by CBS Mornings to promote her latest Netflix flick, Leave the World Behind, she lit up the screen with that trademark megawatt smile. It was all thanks to a little nudge from her good friend Gayle King, who brought up Julia's husband of 21 years, Danny Moder. Now, that’s what I call a smile that speaks volumes.
“This is the thing about you and Danny,” Gayle teased with a grin. “You can’t even say his name without breaking into that dazzling smile… I so love this about the two of you.” And let me tell you, that’s high praise coming from Gayle King herself.
This heartwarming moment wasn’t just about smiles; it was a testament to the strength of their relationship. Despite some challenges along the way, Julia, now 56, and Danny, 54, have managed to weather the storm. As Closer magazine reported, they’ve had their share of disagreements, especially over where to live—Julia prefers San Francisco, while Danny leans toward L.A. But hey, every great love story has its ups and downs, right? And this couple has emerged stronger than ever.
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As parents to their 19-year-old twins, Hazel and Phinnaeus, and their 16-year-old son, Harry, they’ve navigated their differences and are now looking forward to a future as empty nesters. A source close to the couple exclusively told Closer: “They’ve been through so much to find solid ground, but they’re closer than they ever were.”
Love at First Sight—or Was It?
Let’s rewind the clock to when it all began. Julia and Danny famously met on the set of The Mexican back in 2001. At the time, Julia had been previously divorced from country singer Lyle Lovett and was dating actor Benjamin Bratt. Meanwhile, Danny was married to celebrity makeup artist Vera Steimberg. Fast forward to early 2002, Danny’s divorce was finalized, and by July 4th of the same year, they were walking down the aisle together.
Over the years, Julia has shared countless glimpses into what seemed like a picture-perfect marriage. Back in 2017, she gushed about her husband, saying, “Every day my husband walks in the door, it’s like a recurring dream. I’m like, ‘Ah, he’s back!’” Can you imagine that kind of excitement every single day? That’s love, my friends.
But life isn’t always a bed of roses, and the couple faced their fair share of challenges. In recent years, they butted heads over career choices and where to live. Julia was perfectly content in their $8.3 million home in San Francisco, while Danny yearned to be closer to L.A., where his work opportunities were more abundant. “They came close to breaking up,” a source revealed. “But as a child of divorce, Julia didn’t want her kids to experience the same pain.”
Through it all, they’ve learned to accommodate each other. “A lot of it was Julia calming down and realizing she needed to stop trying to control everything, which is her nature,” the source explained. “Even though Danny is so laid-back, it was affecting him. They’ve worked hard to find a balance.”
Finally, this fall, Julia made the tough decision to sell her dream home for $11.3 million, and the family officially made L.A. their permanent home. “Some things are more important,” the insider continued. “Family comes first. She’s still passionate, and he’s still chill, but their personalities now complement each other in a beautiful way.”
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Back at CBS, Julia couldn’t stop gushing about her beloved Danny. Calling him “my person” and “my favorite human,” she said, “He’s so smart and kind and dynamic in the way he looks at the world and admires people, and he’s just so strong and loving.”
What Happens After Happily Ever After?
While Julia and Danny have found their happily ever after, the actress has some interesting thoughts on what might have happened to her iconic rom-com characters. It’s always fun to imagine, right?
In Pretty Woman, Vivian might now be a widow running her late husband’s business. Meanwhile, in My Best Friend’s Wedding, Julianne could be starring on HGTV with her gay best friend George (Rupert Everett) and is “wildly famous.”
As for Anna Scott from Notting Hill and William (Hugh Grant)? Well, according to Julia, Anna has retired, has six children, and somehow managed to maintain her waist size. William, on the other hand, still runs the bookshop, now with a little knitting annex. Sounds like the perfect ending to me!
