Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts has returned to the big screen with a deeply emotional role in August: Osage County, a drama that explores the complexities of family, grief, and intergenerational trauma. Filmed in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the project reunited Roberts with several Hollywood heavyweights, including Ewan McGregor, Meryl Streep, and Juliette Lewis.
Behind the Scenes: A Grounded Approach to a Gritty Story
While known for her glamour and charm in films like Pretty Woman and Notting Hill, Roberts takes a very different approach in this production. On set, she was seen wearing a simple white blouse layered over a cream shirt, matched with loose-fitting jeans—a far cry from her usual red carpet attire.
Her character, Barbara Weston, is a woman pushed to emotional limits following the sudden disappearance of her father, a man struggling with addiction. The raw, intimate moments of the character’s breakdown reflect the darker tone of the script, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tracy Letts.
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A Moment of High Emotion: Dockside Scene With Ewan McGregor
A Pivotal Sequence
In one particularly gripping scene, Roberts and McGregor, who plays Barbara’s estranged husband Bill Fordham, are seen walking slowly toward a boat dock alongside a local sheriff. They are there to identify a deceased individual, believed to be Barbara’s missing father. The gravity of the moment is palpable—Roberts clutches McGregor’s hand, portraying a mix of dread and determination.
Upon confirming the identity of the body, her character breaks down into tears, seeking comfort in Bill’s embrace as she mourns not just the death of a parent, but the collapse of a fragile family unit.
Behind the Take: Laughter and Lightness
Despite the emotionally draining nature of the scene, both Roberts and McGregor were later seen sharing laughs between takes. According to crew members, Roberts’s ability to toggle between intense emotion and levity kept morale high on set. “She brings warmth to heavy material,” one assistant director commented.
Also present during the shoot was Julianne Nicholson, who portrays Barbara’s sister Ivy. Nicholson’s grounded presence adds another layer of depth to the family dynamics depicted in the film.
A Cast Filled With Powerhouses
Meryl Streep as Violet Weston
The heart of August: Osage County lies in the chaotic relationship between Barbara and her mother Violet, played by the incomparable Meryl Streep. Violet is abrasive, manipulative, and struggling with her own illness, and Streep’s portrayal is already drawing early Oscar buzz.
In one scene, the mother-daughter duo engage in a fiery exchange over the dinner table, with both actresses delivering performances that are as painful as they are authentic.
Supporting Roles with Impact
In addition to the leads, the film includes:
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Benedict Cumberbatch as Little Charles Aiken, a cousin with emotional vulnerabilities
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Juliette Lewis as Karen Weston, the youngest sister and self-proclaimed optimist
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Chris Cooper, Abigail Breslin, and others in roles that round out a fractured family with years of buried resentment
Originally, actresses Renée Zellweger and Andrea Riseborough were considered for roles in the film. Riseborough was even cast, but due to scheduling conflicts, her part was later filled by Lewis.
A Departure From Glamour: The Power of Simplicity
Costume and Character Design
Both Julia Roberts and Julianne Nicholson adopted a look that reinforced the story’s emotional weight. Roberts’s makeup-free appearance, relaxed hairstyle, and wardrobe choices were intentional. The goal, according to costume designer Catherine Marie Thomas, was to “strip away artifice and allow the performances to speak for themselves.”
Nicholson, meanwhile, sported a plain blue button-down shirt and wide-legged brown trousers. With her hair tied back in a low ponytail, she presented a woman trying to keep control amid chaos.
A Story Rooted in Family and Pain
At its core, August: Osage County is about the unspoken tensions that build within families—and how tragedy can either deepen wounds or begin to heal them.
The screenplay balances emotional intensity with dark humor, offering audiences a candid look at what happens when decades of bitterness come to a boil. The performances are intimate, uncomfortable at times, and utterly human.
Critical Response and Early Praise
Even before its wide release, critics have praised the film for its rawness and realism. Early screenings suggest that Roberts, Streep, and McGregor deliver performances that could easily enter awards conversations.
“Julia Roberts has never been more vulnerable onscreen,” wrote one early reviewer.
“You forget you’re watching movie stars—it feels like a real family coming undone,” said another.
Final Thoughts: A Film That Leaves a Mark
August: Osage County is not an easy film. It doesn’t offer clean resolutions or tidy endings. Instead, it immerses viewers in the emotional fallout of long-held pain, and asks difficult questions about loyalty, legacy, and love.
For Julia Roberts, this film marks a return to serious, character-driven drama, and shows a side of her talent that fans rarely see. Whether dressed in designer gowns or faded jeans, her ability to connect with audiences remains unmatched.