The Forgotten Feud: Julia Roberts and Steven Spielberg’s Turbulent Relationship

Back in the early 1990s, Steven Spielberg and Julia Roberts found themselves at the center of a public feud that captivated the media.

The tension between the director and actor arose after their collaboration on the 1991 film Hook, where Roberts portrayed Tinker Bell in the story of a grown-up Peter Pan (played by Robin Williams) returning to Neverland to confront Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) once again.

At the time, Roberts was dealing with personal issues that were making headlines, and Spielberg subtly attributed their difficulties to her distractions, which she felt were unfair and inaccurate.

Let's delve into what both parties had to say about their strained relationship.

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Roberts' personal life became a matter of public scrutiny during this period.

In 1991, she was engaged to Kiefer Sutherland, and their highly publicized breakup occurred just days before their scheduled June wedding.

According to them, the split had happened earlier, but it was widely reported that Roberts had eloped with Sutherland's friend Jason Patric to Ireland, as detailed by People magazine.

Additionally, Roberts had been hospitalized with the flu around the same time, sparking rumors of drug use and speculation that she had lost her role in Hook.

These events unfolded while the film, released in December 1991, was still in production.

“I would read about it in the newspapers just like everyone else,” Roberts candidly shared with Entertainment Weekly at the time.

“I'd be on set reading that I didn't have a job or that there were problems going on.

It all became absurd.”

Reports circulated that the Hook crew had given Roberts an unflattering nickname.

Rumors swirled that she was so difficult to work with that the crew referred to her as “Tinker Hell.”

“I never heard that nickname,” Roberts responded to Entertainment Weekly.

“But I'm just a normal person.

If I spend six hours in my trailer doing nothing, I'd naturally question what's happening.

I don't think that's an outrageous reaction or considered temperamental.

So, I don't know what to tell you.

I'm not perfect…

I get frustrated like anyone else, but I wouldn't label myself as temperamental.”

During an interview on 60 Minutes in 1992, Spielberg evaded a question about his experience working with Roberts.

When asked if he would hesitate to collaborate with her again, Spielberg chuckled and responded, “That sounds like a 60 Minutes question, doesn't it?”

Roberts wasn't pleased with Spielberg's response and later addressed it in an interview with Vanity Fair in 1993.

“He wasn't unkind.

He was very evasive, yes,” Roberts expressed.

“He seemed hesitant, as if he had to choose his words carefully when talking about me.

I watched it and wondered, ‘Is this the same man I had whipped-cream fights with on set?

Is this the same man who couldn't wait to come to our stage every day because it was more fun than the big stage, relaxed, and easier?

Even though setting up shots took nine hours, I always worked fast, kept things moving, and remained good-humored without complaining.'

I guess it's sometimes too tempting to join the majority.

To have him insinuate that it was difficult for me to go through a personal experience while making a movie – well, yes, it was.

But did I handle it as gracefully as anyone could?

Absolutely.

Did I ever feel like my personal life inconvenienced him in any way on set?

No.”

She further commented that Spielberg “obviously missed some aspect of who I am as a person.”

When asked if she felt deceived by the director, Roberts replied, “No, I don't feel deceived.

And at this point, it doesn't really matter.

Expectations only lead to disappointment, and I don't expect anything from Steven.”

Years later, Roberts still found herself puzzled by the rumors surrounding her behavior during the filming of Hook.

In a 1999 interview with Vanity Fair, she reflected on the situation.

“I can honestly say that none of what I read was true, and it really hurt my feelings,” Roberts revealed.

“It not only painted me in a negative light but also involved people who knew the truth but didn't speak up in an honest manner.”

Referring to Spielberg's interview, she expressed her disbelief, saying, “When I saw it, my jaw dropped.

I couldn't believe that someone I knew and trusted would hesitate to defend me.

It was a difficult lesson to learn.

It was the first time I felt betrayed by someone I considered an ally.”

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