Julia Roberts managed to build a strong marriage with her cinematographer husband, and they’ve been married for over 2 decades. She also put motherhood ahead of her career, pausing it for 20 years when she was almost 40. The star lives an ordinary life with her family on a rural ranch where she secretly married her spouse.
In the early spring of 2000, Julia Roberts met her now-husband, Daniel Moder, a cameraman, on the set of “The Mexican.” However, both were in relationships at the time. While the actress was dating fellow actor Benjamin Bratt, Daniel was married to makeup artist Vera Steimberg Moder, whom he was with for four years.
Some people close to the cinematographer’s family said his marriage to his ex-wife was strained, but the bond he started building with Julia pushed him to file for divorce from Vera in June 2001.
Daniel Moder and Julia Roberts on the set of “Mona Lisa Smile” on November 21, 2002. | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, the “Pretty Woman” star was a frequent patron of the restaurants and shops near her lower Manhattan apartment when she was dating Benjamin, but things changed after they broke up. When she began seeing Daniel after his divorce, she was rarely seen at her usual spots.
Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, California in 2001. | Source: Getty Images
The pair, who’d become romantic, divided their time between Julia’s more than $5 million Taos ranch and Daniel’s Los Angeles apartment. The actress bought the ranch in 1995 as a retreat from Hollywood life.
Julia Roberts and her husband Danny Moder leave the “Punch-Drunk Love” screening during the 10th Annual New York Film Festival in New York City on October 5, 2002 | Source: Getty Images
The star lived a simple life at the ranch where she’d walk her many dogs, bond with neighbors, get takeout at Taos Cow, or dance and make out in the evening with Daniel at the Alley Cantina. It seemed the couple’s relationship was more than a fleeting romance.
Julia’s alleged friend described the couple as loving, solid, and nonjudgmental. Speaking about his experience with Julia when they were still dating, Benjamin, who married Talisa Soto, his “Piñero” co-star, in May 2002, mentioned how he never liked the fame Julia had.
He once told Vanity Fair, “It’s like a fly that won’t leave you alone; it’s that mosquito that buzzes in your ear when you’re trying to sleep at night.”
Benjamin Bratt and Julia Roberts at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California in 2001. | Source: Getty Images
However, according to a friend, Daniel was different because he liked every “facet” of who Julia was and accepted it. The friend described the cameraman as supportive and as someone who celebrated the actress for who she was.
Julia Roberts and Daniel Moder at\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\u00a0Heal The Bay’s Bring Back The Beach Fundraiser on May 17, 2012, in Santa Monica, California | Source: Getty Images
At the time, Daniel wasn’t as famous as Julia, and it wasn’t typical for a celebrity of her caliber to date what could be deemed a “simple man.” As a result, tabloids discussed their romance, but the pair’s love was firm, and Daniel proved he was ready to live with her fame for life.
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