‘Mystic Pizza’ Is The Movie That Made Julia Roberts

Doesn’t it seem like Julia Roberts has been a movie star forever? She first caught America’s attention with a showy role in the classic Steel Magnolias, where she played Shelby Eatenton Latcherie (that’s mouthful alright!), an impetuous young woman hell-bent on becoming a good wife and mother despite her severe diabetes. Her tragic turn earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress (she lost to Brenda Fricker, who won for My Left Foot) and a spot on the A-list, which was clinched with her instantly-iconic performance in Pretty Woman. Though her career has had ups and downs, Julia Roberts has remained one of Hollywood biggest stars.

But was Steel Magnolias the movie that started it all? NO! The movie that put Julia Roberts on the radar was a little coming-of-age gem – 1988’s Mystic Pizza. Now streaming on Hulu, Mystic Pizza enjoyed a nice resurgence in the late-’90s when it caught attention as Matt Damon’s first on-screen appearance. What Mystic Pizza should be better remembered for, though, is for launching the careers of three dynamite young actresses: Annabeth Gish, Lili Taylor and Julia Roberts. And – no disrespect – Roberts is the clear standout among the three.

She plays Daisy Arújo, a fiery Portuguese girl (yes, problematic casting that wouldn’t fly today) who feels trapped in her small Connecticut town more promiscuous than she might like to be, with no real prospects and a decidedly uncertain future. Daisy envies her sister, Kat (Gish), who is on her way to Yale, and her best friend, Jojo (Taylor) as she tries figure out her relationship with her fiancé Bill (a rather hunky Vincent D’Onofrio). From the beginning, it’s clear that Daisy is the talk of the town and of the local pizzeria.

With every turn of her lips and flick of her hair, Roberts infuses Daisy with a devil-may-care attitude and boldness that catches the eye of Charlie, a rich kid who is as much of a rebel as she is. Of course, they are smitten. Just watch this iconic pool sequence.

When Charlie tracks down Daisy for a date at her home (which, yes, now would be a red flag), Roberts plays up Daisy’s insecurities as much as her desire to pursue a relationship. She knows they are from two different worlds, but just can’t resist.

In brief little moments from their disastrous date, Julia exudes such charm and screen presence that the audience can’t help falling in love with her, just as Charlie does. As this intense and appealing young woman, Roberts is so charismatic that you side with her in anything she does, even when she goes too far… like dumping fish into Charlie’s car when she thinks he’s cheating on her.

But what really makes Daisy Arújo stand out as one of Julia Roberts’ signature characters is the raw anger and sense of betrayal she conveys at the family dinner at Charlie’s house where he clearly brought her to enrage his parents.

Her nuanced, funny, sweet and captivating performance in Mystic Pizza suggested strongly that Julia Roberts had the stuff to be one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. It’s no surprise that her mainstream breakout happened just one year later with she was rewarded with a juicy role in a great ensemble cast in Steel Magnolias. And 31 years later, Julia Roberts and her mile-wide smile are still gracing silver (and small) screens everywhere.

Where to stream Mystic Pizza