| Errors | Missing | Unverified | Supported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
The most famous actor in Ocean's Eleven (2001) at the time of its release was Julia Roberts.
While the film was stacked with massive male stars (Brad Pitt and George Clooney were at the peak of their fame), Julia Roberts was arguably the biggest box-office draw in the world in the year 2001, often commanding unprecedented salaries for an actress. She had just won the Academy Award for Best Actress the previous year, solidifying her critical respect alongside her commercial dominance.
Her star power was so significant that the promotional materials often centered on the fact that she was the eleventh "star" in the ensemble, matching the collective fame of the ten men.
Here are some of her other notable films released prior to the 2001 release of Ocean's Eleven:
| Film Title | Year of Release | Specific Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Pretty Woman | 1990 | Her iconic breakthrough role playing Vivian Ward opposite Richard Gere. This film established her as an A-list star and secured her multiple award nominations, defining the modern romantic comedy genre for a decade. |
| My Best Friend's Wedding | 1997 | A massive critical and commercial hit that revitalized the romantic comedy genre and demonstrated her star power could carry a film. She played Julianne Potter, a food critic trying to sabotage her best friend's marriage. |
| Notting Hill | 1999 | A hugely successful international romantic comedy where she played Anna Scott, a globally famous American actress who falls for a British bookshop owner (Hugh Grant). The film broke numerous box office records. |
| Runaway Bride | 1999 | This film reunited her with Pretty Woman co-star Richard Gere and director Garry Marshall. Despite some mixed reviews, the highly anticipated reunion guaranteed a major box office victory. |
| Erin Brockovich | 2000 | Roberts won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the titular legal clerk who takes on a major energy corporation. This role cemented her as both a critical darling and a commercial powerhouse just one year before Ocean's Eleven was released. |
| Steel Magnolias | 1989 | One of her earliest major roles, portraying Shelby Eatenton Latcherie. Her performance earned her her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. |
In the film's credits and marketing, Roberts received the prestigious 'And' billing at the end of the cast list, a industry-standard marker of her superior star status compared to the ensemble.
To convince her to take a pay cut for the ensemble film, Clooney sent her the script with a $20 bill and a note saying 'I hear you get 20 a picture now,' mocking her $20 million standard rate.
The AI summary incorrectly implies there were 10 men and Roberts was the 11th. In reality, there are 11 men in the crew (Clooney, Pitt, Damon, Cheadle, Mac, Caan, Affleck, Jemison, Qin, Reiner, and Gould).
At the time of the release of Ocean's Eleven in December 2001, Julia Roberts was the most famous actor in the cast. She was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, having recently become the first woman to command a $20 million salary (for 2000's Erin Brockovich). Furthermore, she had just won the Academy Award for Best Actress in March 2001. While George Clooney and Brad Pitt were major stars, Roberts' commercial and critical peak in 2001 was unparalleled, evidenced by her receiving the 'And Julia Roberts' credit. The 'Eleven' in the title refers to the 11-man heist crew (Danny Ocean and his 10 recruits); Roberts played Tess Ocean, the female lead and Danny's ex-wife, but was not a member of the crew. Her notable films prior to 2001 include Pretty Woman (1990), Steel Magnolias (1989), My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), Notting Hill (1999), Runaway Bride (1999), and Erin Brockovich (2000).