Herbie Murray
In the 1991 American psychological thriller film Sleeping with the Enemy, Julia Roberts, aged 22, played the role of Laura, a woman who escapes her abusive husband, Martin, by faking her own death and moving from Cape Cod to Cedar Falls, Iowa. Roberts' performance in the film was well-received, with critics praising her ability to bring vulnerability to her role as a battered housewife.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age of Julia Roberts when Sleeping with the Enemy was shot | 22 or 23 |
| Age of Julia Roberts when Sleeping with the Enemy was released | 23 |
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What You'll Learn
Julia Roberts was 22 or 23 when the film was shot
Sleeping with the Enemy is a 1991 American psychological thriller starring Julia Roberts, Patrick Bergin, and Kevin Anderson. The film is based on Nancy Price's 1987 novel of the same name.
At the time of filming, Julia Roberts was either 22 or 23 years old. She was born on October 28, 1967, making her 22 years old during the spring of 1990 when the film was shot. However, one source suggests that she was 23 at the time of the movie's release and likely even younger during filming.
In the film, Roberts plays Laura Burney, a woman who seemingly has it all: a beautiful home, a wealthy and handsome husband, and anything she desires. However, her husband, Martin, is controlling and abusive. Laura eventually decides to fake her own death and escape to a small town, but her peaceful new life is interrupted when Martin discovers her and tracks her down.
Roberts's performance in the film received generally positive reviews. She became the youngest actress to earn a seven-figure fee for a single performance. Her portrayal of Laura, a vulnerable and abused wife, brought a real vulnerability to the screen.
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She played Laura Burney, a woman escaping her abusive husband
In the 1991 American psychological thriller film *Sleeping with the Enemy*, Julia Roberts plays Laura Burney, a woman escaping her abusive husband. At 22 years old, Roberts became the youngest actress to earn a seven-figure fee for a single performance.
In the film, Laura Burney is initially portrayed as a woman with a seemingly perfect life. She has a beautiful home, a wealthy and handsome husband, and can afford anything she desires. However, her husband, Martin, is controlling, obsessive, and physically abusive. Laura lives in constant fear of her husband's violent behaviour. To escape her abusive marriage, Laura devises a plan to fake her own death. She flees from Cape Cod to Cedar Falls, Iowa, assuming a new identity and starting a new life.
Laura's peaceful new life is short-lived as her husband discovers that she is still alive and tracks her down. The film depicts the terror and emotional turmoil experienced by Laura as she tries to escape her abusive husband, highlighting the complexities and dangers faced by victims of domestic violence.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, with some praising Roberts' performance and others criticising the film's descent into clichés and plot holes, *Sleeping with the Enemy* was a box-office success, grossing $175 million on a production budget of $19 million. The film also broke records at the time for the highest domestic opening for a film with a female lead.
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Roberts' performance was praised by critics
In the 1991 film *Sleeping with the Enemy*, Julia Roberts plays Laura, a woman who escapes her abusive husband by faking her own death and moving from Cape Cod to Cedar Falls, Iowa. Roberts was 22 years old when the film was shot in 1990 and 23 when it was released in 1991.
Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics, Roberts's performance in *Sleeping with the Enemy* was praised. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 48 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. However, Roger Ebert did note that the film had good performances and that the opening scenes "briefly seemed to have greatness in its grasp". Owen Gleiberman of *Entertainment Weekly* wrote that the film "has the bare bones of a tantalizing thriller" and praised Roberts's performance, saying, "you can practically feel her pulse".
One IMDb review states that Roberts is "captivating" in her role as the timid wife of a controlling and abusive husband. The reviewer adds that Roberts brings a "real vulnerability" to the role, which is "perfect" for the character. Another review on the same site describes the film as "fun but flawed", with Roberts delivering her performance "with the fervor of a seasoned pro". The reviewer goes on to say that Roberts is a "true starlet" and that watching her perform at such a young age is a "treat".
In addition, *Sleeping with the Enemy* was nominated for the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Saturn Award in 1992 in the category of Best Actress for Roberts's performance.
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The film received negative reviews but was a box office success
Sleeping with the Enemy, starring Julia Roberts, is a 1991 American psychological thriller film directed by Joseph Ruben. The film is an adaptation of Nancy Price's 1987 novel of the same name.
In the film, Julia Roberts, who was 22 years old during filming, plays Laura, a woman who fakes her own death and escapes her abusive and obsessive husband, Martin, by moving from Cape Cod to Cedar Falls, Iowa. However, her peaceful new life is short-lived as her husband discovers her actions and tracks her down.
Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics, the film was a box office success. It grossed $175 million worldwide on a production budget of $19 million. The film also broke records at the time for the highest domestic opening for a film with a female lead, surpassing the previous record held by *Aliens*.
While the film was praised for its suspense and Roberts' performance, with one review stating that Roberts "gives it her all", it was also criticised for falling into clichés and plot holes. Roger Ebert gave the film 1.5 stars out of 4, stating that it became "a slasher movie in disguise, an up-market version of the old exploitation formula where the victim can run, but she can't hide." Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote that the film "has the bare bones of a tantalizing thriller" but ultimately fell short of being a truly captivating thriller.
Despite the mixed reviews, *Sleeping with the Enemy* remains a notable film in Julia Roberts' career, showcasing her versatility as an actress and her ability to portray vulnerable and emotional characters.
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The score by Jerry Goldsmith won a BMI Film Music Award
In the 1991 American psychological thriller film "Sleeping with the Enemy", Julia Roberts, who was 22 when the film was shot in 1990, portrayed a woman who faked her own death to escape her abusive husband. The film was directed by Joseph Ruben and also starred Patrick Bergin and Kevin Anderson.
The film's score, composed by the legendary Jerry Goldsmith, won the BMI Film Music Award in 1992. Goldsmith is considered one of the most innovative and influential composers in film music history. His ability to blend traditional orchestration with electronic elements has been particularly impactful in the realm of video game music. Goldsmith received a total of 18 Academy Award nominations throughout his career, making him one of the most-nominated composers in the history of the Awards.
Goldsmith's career spanned several decades and included a wide range of film scores. He began gaining recognition in the early to mid-1960s with scores such as "Freud" (1962), for which he received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. He also composed the music for "Lonely Are the Brave" (1962), which brought him widespread name recognition. Goldsmith's innovative use of avant-garde techniques in the score for "Planet of the Apes" (1968) further solidified his reputation as a master composer.
Over the years, Goldsmith composed music for numerous notable films, including "Chinatown" (1974), "The Boys from Brazil" (1978), "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979), and "L.A. Confidential" (1997). He also scored several lighter, comedic films in the 1960s, such as the family comedy "The Trouble with Angels" (1966) and the James Bond parody "Our Man Flint" (1966) and its sequel "In Like Flint" (1967). Goldsmith's ability to innovate and his influence on other composers cannot be overstated. His work continues to inspire and influence film and game composers to this day.
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Frequently asked questions
Julia Roberts was 23 years old when Sleeping with the Enemy was released in 1991.
Julia Roberts was 22 years old when Sleeping with the Enemy was filmed in the spring of 1990.
It is not clear how old Julia Roberts was when she got the role for Sleeping with the Enemy, but she was 22 when the film was shot.
No, Kim Basinger was initially attached to the project as Laura Burney, but she turned down the part, and Julia Roberts was cast instead.
