Miya Pearson
In the 1991 thriller Sleeping with the Enemy, Julia Roberts, who was 22 or 23 at the time, portrays Laura, a woman who fakes her own death to escape her abusive husband. The film was directed by Joseph Ruben and based on Nancy Price's 1987 novel of the same name. Roberts' performance in the film solidified her as a rising star, showcasing her ability to deliver emotional and captivating performances in any genre.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Julia Roberts' age when the film was shot | 22 or 23 |
| Julia Roberts' age when the film was released | 23 |
| Age of her character, Laura | Younger than 23 |
| Year of film's release | 1991 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Julia Roberts was 22-23 years old when the film was shot and released
Sleeping with the Enemy is a 1991 American psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin, and Kevin Anderson. The film is an adaptation of Nancy Price's 1987 novel of the same name.
At the time of the film's shooting in 1990, Julia Roberts was 22 years old. She had already gained prominence for her roles in *Steel Magnolias* and *Pretty Woman*. In fact, *Pretty Woman* was still playing in local theatres while the *Sleeping with the Enemy* crew was in town.
By the time of the film's release on February 8, 1991, Roberts had turned 23. *Sleeping with the Enemy* was a box-office success, grossing $175 million on a production budget of $19 million. The film also broke the record at the time for the highest domestic opening for a film with a female lead.
In the film, Roberts plays Laura Burney, a woman who fakes her own death and moves away from her abusive husband, Martin (Patrick Bergin). Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics, Roberts' performance in the film was praised, with one review noting that she "gives it her all". Another review highlights Roberts' ability to bring "a real vulnerability to all her roles".
Sleep Studies: Medicare's Age Limit Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$19.99 $12.36
![Runaway Bride [DVD] [1999] by Julia Roberts](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51TNiiCzgUL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Her character, Laura, is married to a wealthy, abusive husband
In the 1991 thriller *Sleeping with the Enemy*, Julia Roberts plays Laura Burney, a woman who appears to have a perfect life. She is married to Martin, a wealthy broker, and they live in a luxurious home on the beaches of Cape Cod. However, Laura's husband is abusive, and she is effectively a prisoner in her own life.
Laura's husband, Martin, is controlling and dangerously violent. He is obsessive about things being in their proper place, such as the bath towels hanging in a specific way and the canned goods being lined up in the cupboard. This obsession with order is a stark contrast to the chaos and abuse Laura endures behind closed doors. Martin's violent nature is revealed early in the film when he punches Laura in the head for hanging the bathroom towels incorrectly. Laura lives in fear of her husband, and the audience sees her desperately trying to please him by arranging the tins in the cupboard to his liking.
Despite having financial security and a beautiful home, Laura is trapped in a marriage where she is both mentally and physically abused. She feels unable to leave, and the power dynamic between them is emphasised by the age gap between the characters. Patrick Bergin, who plays Martin, is 16 years older than Julia Roberts, reflecting the dynamic of an older, controlling husband preying on a younger, vulnerable wife.
To escape her abusive marriage, Laura eventually devises a plan to fake her own death. She adopts a new identity and starts a new life in a small town, hoping to leave her traumatic past behind. However, Laura's memories of Martin's brutality are stirred when he discovers her new location and tracks her down, refusing to let her go.
Creative Ways to Reuse Your Old Sleep Number Remote
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Valentine's Day [DVD] [2010] by Julia Roberts](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71eg-8e7cOL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Valentine's Day [DVD] [2010] by Julia Roberts](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tGhY2buxL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Stepmom [DVD] [2011] by Julia Roberts](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Pds42qS3L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Mystic Pizza [DVD] by Julia Roberts](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81rvVKkUalL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Laura fakes her own death to escape her husband
In the 1991 film *Sleeping with the Enemy*, Julia Roberts, aged 22, plays Laura Burney, a woman who fakes her own death to escape her abusive husband. Laura and Martin initially appear to be a happily married couple, but it soon becomes clear that Laura lives in fear of her abusive husband.
Laura fakes her death and flees from Cape Cod to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where she assumes a new identity and starts dating a local teacher, Ben Woodward. Laura's new life is peaceful, and she even learns to swim despite her fear of water. However, Martin discovers that Laura is not dead and tracks her down, forcing her to fight for her life once again.
The film is based on Nancy Price's 1987 novel of the same name and is directed by Joseph Ruben. It also stars Patrick Bergin as Martin and Kevin Anderson as Ben Woodward. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, the film was a box-office success and broke records for the highest domestic opening for a film with a female lead at the time.
Sleep Guide: 1-Year-Olds and Their Naps
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Sleeping With The Enemy [1990] [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61rqUSldpqL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Her husband's name is Martin
In the 1991 film Sleeping with the Enemy, Julia Roberts, who was 22 when the film was shot, plays a woman named Laura who fakes her own death and moves away to escape her abusive husband, Martin. Her character's husband is not named Martin in real life. In fact, in the film, Roberts's character is trying to escape her husband, portrayed by Patrick Bergin, when she meets a new love interest, Ben, played by Kevin Anderson.
At the time of filming, Roberts was engaged to Kiefer Sutherland. She later married cameraman Daniel Moder in 2002, and the couple has three children together. Roberts has called Moder the "anchor" of their family and her "forever valentine." In a post celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary, Moder wrote, "This pretty lady and I have been following each other around for a while... Married 15 years today. And look how green our garden still is!!! Love you."
Roberts and Moder met on the set of her film The Mexican in 2000 while she was dating Benjamin Bratt. At the time, Moder was married to Vera Steimberg, but he filed for divorce over a year later. Roberts and Moder wed on July 4, 2002, at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico. Roberts is a devotee of the Hindu guru Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji), and in 2009, she converted to Hinduism. In 2009, their children were given new names after Hindu gods: Lakshmi for Hazel, Ganesh for Phinnaeus, and Krishna Balram for Henry.
Sleepwear: To Wear or Not for Kids?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The film received negative reviews but was a box-office success
Sleeping with the Enemy, starring a 22-year-old Julia Roberts, was released in 1991. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, the film was a box-office success, grossing $175 million worldwide on a production budget of $19 million.
The film received a “Rotten" rating of 24% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating mostly negative reviews. On Metacritic, the film scored 48 out of 100, suggesting "mixed or average" reviews. Critics such as Roger Ebert gave the film 1.5 stars out of 4, praising the performances and opening scenes but criticising the film's descent into clichés and plot holes. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly also gave a mostly negative review, stating that the film "has the bare bones of a tantalizing thriller" but fell short in its execution.
Despite the negative reviews, *Sleeping with the Enemy* was a financial success, breaking records at the time for the highest domestic opening for a film with a female lead. The film grossed $13 million on its opening weekend in the United States and Canada, surpassing the previous record held by *Aliens*, which had grossed $10 million. By the end of its run, the film had grossed over $100 million in the domestic box office and an additional $73 million internationally, for a worldwide total of approximately $175 million.
The film's success can be attributed to several factors, including the popularity of Julia Roberts, who had recently starred in *Steel Magnolias* and *Pretty Woman*. The film's suspenseful and emotional storyline also likely resonated with audiences, despite criticisms of its predictability and use of clichés. *Sleeping with the Enemy* continues to hold a place in popular culture, with a remake reportedly in development in 2019.
Sleep Training: A 7-Month-Old's Schedule
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Julia Roberts was 22 years old during the filming of "Sleeping with the Enemy".
Julia Roberts was 23 years old when "Sleeping with the Enemy" was released in 1991.
No, Julia Roberts had already appeared in Steel Magnolias and Pretty Woman before "Sleeping with the Enemy".
I am sorry, but I do not know how old Julia Roberts is now as I do not know the current date.
I am sorry, but I do not know enough about Julia Roberts' first movie to answer this question.
![Waterproof Cast Covers for Shower Arm Adult Cast Cover Protector Shower Bag to Keep Wounds Dry for Arm, Hands, Wrists, Elbow, Fingers [2025 New Reusable]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61heQwAZXwL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
