Julia Roberts’ Brother Reveals Why He ‘Can’t Talk’ About Her or Daughter Emma

Julia Roberts has a rather well-known family beyond just her niece, Emma Roberts. Her older siblings, Eric Roberts and Lisa Roberts Gillan, have also made their marks in the world of acting.

At 56, Julia was reportedly estranged from her older brother Eric, who is now 68, for many years. Although they have mended fences recently, they intentionally avoid discussing each other publicly to maintain their privacy. Eric, who has notable credits in films such as “Runaway Train,” “The Dark Knight,” and “Babylon,” recently opened up about the subject during an interview.

On the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast, when asked about his Oscar-winning sister, he simply said, “You’ll have to ask her. I love my sister, but I can’t talk about her. She doesn’t want to talk about it.” He also revealed that his daughter, 33-year-old Emma Roberts, had similarly asked him not to discuss her publicly. “She told me not to talk about her, but I stumbled and do. I’m not supposed to talk about either of them. But I do.”

Despite this, Eric couldn’t help but express his admiration for his daughter’s acting career. “I’m in love with my daughter’s work these days. I can’t believe how great she’s become. I’m so proud of her I can’t see straight,” he stated. He continued by reflecting on her recent performance in “Maybe I Do,” saying, “Since her performance in Maybe I Do until right now, she overwhelms me with pride. And I’m just so happy to be her dad, because she’s kicking [expletive]. And I’m so proud.” When asked if he contributed to her success, he humbly responded, “Absolutely nothing. Except I gave her that name.”

In a 2018 interview with Vanity Fair, Eric spoke candidly for the first time about his years-long estrangement from his sisters. The rift primarily arose from his substance abuse struggles. “I wouldn’t characterize it as a falling-out,” he said. “I was crazy about my sisters. Loved them, adored them. They were precious to me, and we had times of great closeness. We all felt very protective of each other, but the hardest person to protect yourself from is yourself.”

Eric admitted that he was “exhausting to be around,” noting that he was often “complainy, blamey, unable to enjoy enjoyment.” He added, “Everyone in my world needed a break sometimes, and that must have included Julia.”

He also credited himself with pioneering the way for his younger sister and his daughter to find success in Hollywood. “If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses, and I’m very proud of that,” he claimed. “When Julia first came to New York, I went into William Morris and I said, ‘Which one of you is going to sign my sister Julia?'”

Eric also highlighted his early career milestones. “I am so proud that everybody knows I was first, because I was first by a long shot. I was first to get Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, so I’m proud of that.”

It’s clear that despite past estrangements, Eric holds deep affection and pride for his family, and they seem to have made efforts to come together in recent times. Julia and Eric’s journey through their ups and downs is a testament to the complex dynamics within families and how, despite the rifts, the bond remains.

Source: Vanity Fair, Still Here Hollywood Podcast