Julia Roberts, known for her roles in beloved movies like “Pretty Woman” and “Notting Hill,” had a lesser-known film in her repertoire that may have slipped under your radar.
In 1994, Roberts starred alongside Nick Nolte in the romantic comedy “I Love Trouble,” where they played rival newspaper reporters who join forces to uncover a conspiracy.
While their characters found common ground, the same cannot be said for Roberts and Nolte themselves.
Their on-set relationship was far from amicable, leading to public statements about each other.
Let's take a trip back to the '90s and explore this classic Hollywood clash.
During an interview with The New York Times in 1993, while still filming “I Love Trouble,” Roberts candidly described Nolte in a way that was both offensive and somewhat complimentary.
She admitted that they gave each other a hard time from the moment they met and acknowledged that Nolte could be charming and nice.
However, she also referred to him as “completely disgusting,” claiming that he seemed to intentionally push people away.
Their interactions on set were certainly lively.
The extent of their animosity remains unclear, but rumors circulated that their relationship was strained during production.
The Los Angeles Times reported in 1994 that sources claimed Roberts was annoyed by Nolte's “machismo” and insulted him, while Nolte allegedly did things to aggravate Roberts further.
According to these sources, they spent more time working with stand-ins than with each other.
Nolte's representative at the time downplayed the issue, stating that the actors only had minor disagreements as is typical for co-stars.
Roberts' representative also dismissed any significant problems between them, referring to a quote from Entertainment Weekly where Roberts mentioned their spirited banter and attempts to provoke each other.
However, Nolte eventually responded to Roberts' comments in The New York Times.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he acknowledged that it was not pleasant to be called “disgusting” but added, “She's not a nice person.
Everyone knows that.”
Years later, in 2009, during an appearance on The Late Show, Roberts did an impression of a co-star who had gotten angry with her during a scene.
Although she didn't explicitly mention Nolte, OK!
Magazine reported that she was imitating him, showcasing their past tensions.
Unfortunately, “I Love Trouble” did not achieve success.
The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews, earning a meager 22 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics pointed out that the lackluster chemistry between Nolte and Roberts may have been influenced by their on-set friction, as noted in the Los Angeles Times article.
While Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte may not have seen eye to eye during the making of “I Love Trouble,” their clash remains an intriguing chapter in Hollywood history.
Despite their differences, both actors have continued successful careers, leaving behind this memorable, albeit turbulent, collaboration on the silver screen.
