Julia Roberts Wins American Cinematheque Career Award
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, 40, was the unanimous choice of the Cinematheque Board of Directors selection as the winner of the 22nd annual American Cinematheque Award for 2007, which honors career achievements. Last year she presented George Clooney with his award. Previous winners include Martin Scorcese, Al Pacino, Nicolas Cage, Steven Spielberg, Nicole Kidman, and Tom Cruise. The award will be presented on October 12 to Roberts at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in the International Ballroom and the ceremony will be broadcast in December on AMC, the exclusive broadcast partner of the annual event since 2003.
It is the biggest benefit for American Cinematheque, which owns and operates two area theaters that show classic, experimental and non-mainstream films and videos, the Egyptian Theater, built in 1922 on Hollywood Boulevard, and the Aero Theater, built in 1940 in Santa Monica. It uses the event to raise money to help support aspiring filmmakers.
According to its website, the American Cinematheque is “a non-profit, viewer-supported cultural organization dedicated exclusively to the public presentation of the Moving Picture in all its forms. The Cinematheque presents the best of film and video—ranging form the classics to the outer frontiers of the art form.”
Since its inception in 1986, the non-profit committee has given an award every year to an actor, director, or writer in the entertainment industry who is fully engaged in his or her work and who is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of motion pictures.
Cinematheque board chairman Rick Nicita said Monday said, “Julia Roberts is a true movie star who has delighted audiences and critics in so many pictures, from her first screen appearance in ‘Mystic Pizza’ through megahits like ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Runaway Bride’ to her Academy Award-winning performance in ‘Erin Brockovich’ and many, many more.”
Roberts is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world and a three-time Golden Globe winner. She was also nominated for Academy Awards for best supporting actress for “Steel Magnolias” and best actress for “Pretty Woman” and won the Oscar in 2001 for “Erin Brockovich.”
Her other credits include “Mona Lisa Smile,” which she produced with her Red Om Films, “My Best Friend’s Wedding”, and “Ocean’s Eleven.”
Roberts next stars in the Afghanistan war drama “Charlie Wilson’s War” opposite Tom Hanks, which is scheduled for release on Christmas Day.
Julia Roberts recently gave birth to her third child, Henry Daniel Moder, and has twins Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus Walter, 2, with husband Danny Moder.
