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Julia Roberts, who began her career as “Pretty Woman,” is now the most beautiful person in the world, according to People magazine’s Most Beautiful Person issue released on Wednesday.
This is the fourth time the 42-year-old timeless beauty has headed People’s list and the twelfth time she’s been named one of the world’s 100 Most Beautiful people.
The announcement was made live Wednesday on TODAY by People senior editor Galina Espinoza.
A dozen appearances are the second-most in the history of the exclusive list. Only Halle Berry, who this year makes her 14th appearance on People’s iconic list, has more. Following Roberts are nine-time honorees George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Brad Pitt and Nicole Kidman. Of those, only Lopez is back this year.
Video: Ann Curry makes the ‘Most Beautiful’ list Also making an appearance on this year’s list is TODAY’s own Ann Curry, 53, honored in the “Beauty at Every Age” section. She follows TODAY’s Meredith Vieira and Natalie Morales, who were on the list last year.
Still a ‘Pretty Woman’
Roberts rocketed to fame 20 years ago in the movie “Pretty Woman.”
“She’s as beautiful as ever,” Garry Marshall, the film’s director and her friend, told the magazine. “She’s much more centered and calm now and not so stressed. She is quite the mom — very nurturing.”
A self-described working mom, Roberts lives in Taos, N.M., with husband Danny Moder, 41, and her three children: 5-year-old twins Hazel and Finn, and 2-year-old Henry. She’s just landed a new job as global ambassador for cosmetics giant Lancome and continues to work as an actress.
But it’s family that is now the center of her world.
Slideshow: Julia Roberts “Looking at my family is like a deep, cleansing breath,” she told People. “I am very blessed, and I try to show my gratitude each day. When I do get stressed out, my husband is a great help — he is incredibly funny, and laughter is the best remedy for stress.”
Her newest film, “Eat Pray Love,” is due out in August. It’s based on a best-selling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, who told People, “Nothing can prepare you for how beautiful Julia Roberts is. She always seems lit from within, like a magical creature.”
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Jessicas and Jersey Girls
The “Most Beautiful People” issue is broken down into sections celebrating various aspects of beauty. For the fourth straight year, there’s a section on “Stars without Makeup” that celebrates eight women photographed in just moisturizer and lip balm.
Video: 100 Most Beautiful People of 2009 revealed They include Diane Kruger, 33, of “Inglourious Basterds”; Ashley Greene, 23; Kerry Washington, 33; supermodel Heidi Klum and Selena Gomez, 17.
There’s also a section honoring “Beautiful Jessicas,” new to the edition this year. Those include Jessica Biel, 28; Jessica Simpson, 29, and Jessica Alba, 29, who reveals that her real name is Farrahdawn Louisa Alba.
“Surprise Jersey Girls” is another new section, honoring women with connections to the Garden State. Those include Sarah Jessica Parker, 45, who was educated in Englewood; Newark natives Queen Latifah, 40, and Keshia Knight Pulliam, 31; former Princeton student Brooke Shields, 44; Jersey City native Martha Stewart, 68, and Christina Milian, 28.
“It Runs in the Family” features four celebrity daughters: Meryl Streep’s daughter, actress Mamie Gummer, 26; Phil Collins’ daughter, actress Lily Collins, 21; Jack Nicholson’s and Rebecca Broussard’s daughter, actress Lorraine Nicholson, 20; and Alfre Woodard’s daughter, Mavis Spencer, 18, a student who will attend Columbia University in the fall.
Video: Johnny Depp is People’s ‘Sexiest Man’ People’s Espinoza said that Collins reveals Nicholson’s nickname for her from when she was a newborn. “His nickname for her is ‘Perf,’ which is short for ‘perfect,’ ” Espinoza said.
On the “Hot List” are reality star Kim Kardashian, actress Zoe Saldana, and singers Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus.
This year’s “Hot List” includes 20-year-old Kristen Stewart and 27-year-old Gabourey Sidibe, the “Precious” star and Academy Award nominee, who told People, “For my own happiness, I had to learn to like myself — and take the way I look out of the equation.”
Featured among the men on the list are 16-year-old singing star Justin Bieber, who insists it’s not all about the hair. “Your hair doesn’t make you who you are. It’s part of my image; it’s not who I am,” he insisted.
“Twilight” heartthrob Robert Pattison, 23, is also on the list as is “American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert, 28.
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