For starters, I haven’t had this famous name my whole life, just a lot of it. Married to it 17 years ago, it was more important to my beloved to take his name than it was to me to keep mine, so I gave up Cowan (sorry Dad of 4 girls) overnight basically. I’d suddenly gone from no one caring about my name to everyone caring about my name. This was back in the day! Post Pretty Woman, pre Oscar win, when her brows were still bushy and her hair still big and curly like any girl who could have fit into a Saved by the Bell episode.
People tend to over remind me that I have the name of a famous person. The various things I hear and see on a nearly daily basis:
On phone:
- “Wait. You’re…you’re not THE Julia Roberts are you?”
- “Is this…her…you?”
- “Really?”
- “Can I get your autograph?”
- “Is this really you?”
- “I bet you get that all the time.”
- “I can’t believe I am talking to you.”
- “Is this the real one?”
- “Loved your last movie.”
In person:
- “Hey! It’s Julia Roberts!”
- Pause. Look up. Disappointment.
- Pause. Look up. Smile. “Ha!”
- “Can I get your autograph?”
- “Hey Frank, Julia Roberts is over here!”
- ” Loved you in _________(fill in the blank with your favorite movie)!”
- “I’m not going to say anything about your name because I bet you hear that all the time.”
My usual answers:
- “I’m the poorer one.”
- “I’m famous in my own family!”
- “I’m The Other Julia Roberts.”
- “No, I’m sorry, I just have her name.”
- “Hey! She’s using my name!”
- “Sorry, my signature isn’t worth a dime.”
I guess I don’t really mind sharing her name. It’s a conversation starter. I also like to see how many people a day hear my name and don’t say a thing about it or make a face that smiles and says, “I know I shouldn’t say something, but it’s not everyday I meet a person with a famous name.” So I count. The most? Seven times in one day. Also? It’s hard not to remember you’ve spoken to Julia Roberts; so it’s hard for someone to claim I didn’t call about something. It doesn’t really get me much because within a few seconds people know I’m not the famous one. Once, before kids when I had time and money, I went for a massage and the people who greeted me really did think I was (THAT!) Julia Roberts because I saw all kinds of disappointment in their faces as I excitedly announced I was there for my appointment.
I know it might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people think a star does things on her own. I hate to tell you this, but I bet (the famous) Julia Roberts doesn’t schedule her own appointments; not hair, nail, nor car tire rotation. I’m guessing, but not sure, that she probably has someone who scoops her dog’s poop. Or maybe not.
If she does not have a pooper scooper, then we’re more alike than I thought. You know, except for fame, money, power and help, we’re like twins. Well, and the hair I suppose.
About Julia Roberts
That’s gotta be so annoying. My name is Hillary and I’ve heard jokes about Hillary Clinton and Hillary Duff way too many times. I never get Hillary Swank though. I think people forget about her.
Oh yeah! Hillary Swank! It does get old, but what am I gonna do now about it, right? I had kids with the guy and had my SS card changed!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
Yes. Good Post. Very funny. It must be annoying at times too.
I must admit that I don’t usually have the same trouble – but then Wilhelmina Dewbottom is quite an unremarkable name, isn’t it?
PS: “Hey! She’s using my name!” - I like that – good one! Could you sue, do you think? :)
Twitter Name: adamfrayle
It’s only annoying when I’m in a hurry and people want to chit chat. But I admit, it can get me out of a bad mood.
Ms. Dewbottom is probably my favorite name ever though! Oh, the cute nicknames!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
I happened to marry a Kennedy. No not THE Kennedys, just a Kennedy. What gets me most is someone in Walmart asking me if I’m related. Hello? Would I be there if I was?
Exactly! I’m thinking THAT Julia Roberts isn’t buying 8 dollar ammonia free hair color for herself!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
I answered the phone at work one day, and the guy had to leave a message. When I asked his name, he said, “Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?”
It really was his name and he was really tired of the cartoon. :-)
Yeah, that might be a hard one to get down with, ya know?
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
I work for a company that has very famous people as customers, and you’d be surprised how many of them actually do make those kinds of calls. Probably not JR, though :-)
I share my married name with a semi-famous actress on a cable series, as well as with a well-known TV/Movie character. I get the benefit of no one being able to Google me without knowing specific info about me, and the only weird thing is that people follow me on Twitter thinking I’m an actress in a vampire series. I took my husband’s name because I was tired of spelling my Scandinavian last name, to be honest.
I know…it’s kind of hard to google me as well! Good point!
You’re like one of those fake twitter celebs then I guess, huh?
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
Can’t identify with that. Thank goodness. But we were at a wedding last week and everyone thought Vince McMahon was there. And it was Walt Potter. But people kept asking…
Twitter Name: thedgoddess
Oh boy can I relate..I took my husbands name Forbes that would be the Forbes part of the family without the “money”. You think they’d have a clue by looking at me, but they always ask!
My name is Sara Gilbert and I get asked all the time if I’m any relation to the one on “Roseanne”…or if my sister was on “Little House on the Prairie”….
On the bright side? If potential gentleman friends Google me they will find the actress…not me…
At least you get to play the game to see which actress they will connect you to right? And I’m old enough to love both of those shows, so it works for me.
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
I have a girlfriend whose married name is Robin Williams. At least your name doesn’t conjure up images of an overly hairy, male actor! you win.
Well, there is THAT. I’m guessing people did that Mork hand symbol think all the time at her. Oy.
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
My dad had an historically famous name (Robert Burns) and we’d get asked all the time if we were related to THAT Robert Burns. So far as we know, we’re not. :-)
And when George Burns was alive, people would always ask if he was my grandpa. I spared telling them that he wasn’t a Burns by birth (it was a stage name) and simply said no.
Not quite as annoying as having such a famous name myself, so I feel for you!
Twitter Name: CountessMo
Yeah, then there’s that whole God reference from his latest rounds of movies, right?
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
GREAT REVIEW! I totally agree with all you said in your post, especially at the end of your article. Thank you, this info is very useful as always. Keep up the good work! You’ve got +1 more reader of your blog:) Isabella S.
I dated a guy once whose name was Harold Bush. He’d go by Harry most of the time. It was a long time before I got the joke and I’ve got a dirty mind, but it sure came with some great perks, great laughs, and fun freebies every where we went. LOL
HAHAHA! Too funny!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1