Why Julia Roberts’ Most Controversial Role Nearly Sank a Rom-Com Classic

Julia Roberts has long been a fixture in romantic comedies, her name practically synonymous with the genre since her breakout in Pretty Woman. That role, while playing into certain well-worn tropes, propelled her to stardom and set the stage for a string of memorable performances. By the time she took on the part of Julianne in My Best Friend’s Wedding, she was already a household name, known for her charm and knack for playing leads with a certain spark. Yet, this particular character would prove to be a rather different proposition for both Roberts and her audience.

Julianne, as written, is not your typical heroine. She’s a friend who, upon realising her feelings for her best mate, sets out to disrupt his impending marriage to a younger woman. It’s a plan that’s more than a little questionable, and the film doesn’t shy away from her flaws. In fact, the director, PJ Hogan, was acutely aware that viewers might struggle to see things from Julianne’s perspective. Attempting to upend someone’s wedding isn’t exactly the stuff of fairy tales, after all.

Test Screenings and a Backlash

Initial test audiences were, to put it mildly, unimpressed. The original ending saw Julianne meeting a new man, played by John Corbett, after coming to terms with her friend’s marriage. This was meant to offer her a tidy, romantic resolution. Instead, the reaction was unexpectedly harsh.

“They wanted her dead,”

Hogan recalled, reflecting on the strength of feeling in those early screenings. The audience simply couldn’t get behind Julianne’s motives, and the studio grew anxious. There was a sense that a film headlined by Roberts couldn’t possibly leave her character alone and miserable, but the solution wasn’t as simple as tacking on a new love interest.

What followed was a period of rethinking. The creative team needed to find a way to make Julianne’s actions, if not entirely forgivable, at least understandable. The answer lay not in changing her, but in giving her someone to confide in—a sounding board who could act as her conscience.

Rewriting the Ending

Enter Rupert Everett’s character, George. Originally a supporting role, George was expanded to become Julianne’s confidant. Whenever she was on the verge of doing something particularly underhand, she’d ring George, who would call her out and force her to explain herself.

“We expanded his character. Every time Julianne talked to him, she’d explain why she was doing these terrible things; he’s her conscience throughout. Whenever she was being particularly devious I’d have her phone Rupert’s character and he would call her out on it.”

This approach allowed the audience to see Julianne’s internal struggle, making her more relatable, if not entirely likeable.

The revised ending, with George by her side rather than a new romantic partner, struck a chord. Viewers no longer left the cinema with a sense of outrage. Instead, they saw a flawed character who, while far from perfect, was at least honest about her failings. The film’s success at the box office—taking in nearly $300 million—was proof enough that the gamble had paid off.

Legacy of a Flawed Heroine

Looking back, it’s clear that Julianne’s journey was a risky one for a mainstream romantic comedy. Roberts’ willingness to play a character who wasn’t always easy to root for set the film apart from its peers. The decision to let her face the consequences of her actions, rather than simply handing her a new romance, gave the story a depth that resonated with audiences in the end.

With a cast that included Cameron Diaz and Dermot Mulroney, and a script that wasn’t afraid to show its lead at her worst, My Best Friend’s Wedding became a defining moment in Roberts’ career. It proved that even in a genre built on happy endings, there’s room for a bit of messiness—and that sometimes, the most memorable characters are the ones who don’t always get it right.