Oscars 2013

Julia Roberts, 2001

Julia Roberts accepted her Oscar for Erin Brockovich in a dramatic velvet-and-satin Valentino gown. "For the biggest night of her career, Ms. Roberts made a very smart choice in picking a vintage dress from my 1982 collection dedicated to movie stars," Valentino told InStyle. "I was excited—this one was classic Valentino, and I felt she would surprise people with her elegance. But this dress made me nervous. You are never sure who is going to wear what until they walk out onto the stage. That night I was in Rome, watching the Oscars live on television, and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to see if she wore it. Julia was very sweet. Afterward she told me her niece [Emma Roberts] had given her important advice: 'Listen, when you come down the red carpet, don't forget to turn around. Otherwise, no one will see the back, and that's what makes it so special.' But I think Julia is what made it special."

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