

“It’s almost as if she was always lit from behind. “There’s this luminousness to Julia,” Ms. Murphy, who is best known as one of the creators of “Glee.” “She was a real collaborator on making the movie and a real leader on the set.” Also a fan is Elizabeth Gilbert, author of “Eat, Pray, Love,” the best-selling 2006 memoir (200,000 copies in hardback and 6.2 million and counting in paperback) on which the movie is based. “We laughed within 30 seconds of meeting each other and haven’t stopped since,” said Mr. Her newest admirer is Ryan Murphy, who directed her in “Eat Pray Love,” which opens Aug.

Working with her is like having a fabulous dinner conversation with somebody you really like and who really likes you and is loaded with energy and intelligence.” Mike Nichols, who directed her in “Closer” (2004) and “Charlie Wilson,” unabashedly testified, “Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and my wife” Diane Sawyer “those are the three women I love.” Hanks, who starred with her in “Charlie Wilson’s War” (2007), said flat out: “There’s no professional I admire more than Julia. Call around to movie industry associates about Julia Roberts and the love gushes forth. “What am I,” he joked, “just another in your long line of I Love Julia calls?”
