Imagine waking up one day to learn that your whole life has been a lie!
Well, that's exactly what happened to Julia Roberts only recently.
The actress was informed about the scandal surrounding her great great grandmother at Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s talk show, Finding Your Roots.
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But first, here are some more facts about the actress!
Story of Her Birth
The actress entered this world on October 28, 1967. As per factinate.com, her father trained the child of Martin Luther King Jr. at a nearby acting school. Mrs. King allegedly paid the hospital fee for Julia's birth out of gratitude.
A Separate Profession
Julia Roberts didn't always want to act. The American sweetheart's childhood dream was to become a veterinarian. She admitted to wanting to be a veterinarian to TVNZ in New Zealand, but "then I found how hard science can be." Roberts has often proclaimed her affection for animals.
Breakthrough Role
Although Roberts is most recognized for her endearing portrayal in Pretty Woman, her breakthrough role was Daisy in the 1988 film Mystic Pizza.
First Starring Role
In 1987, Roberts made his acting debut in NBC's Crime Story. When she portrayed Tracy, a victim of sexual assault, she was just 19 years old.
Julia Roberts' Spouse
On July 4, 2002, Julia wed photographer Danny Moder. Last year, the pair celebrated 20 years of marriage. Together, they are parents of three kids.
The Oscars and Julia Roberts
The actress has received four Oscar nods so far. 1989's Steel Magnolias received her first nomination. Her first Oscar was given to Erin Brockovich in 2001. The movie was based on the true account of Brockovich, an environmentalist, and mother who helped form a successful legal case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Agency.
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Roberts has been a member of UNICEF for a number of years. The organization provides chances for children all around the globe in an effort to improve their lives. According to Hollywood Insider, she went to Haiti in 1995 together with the group.
Not A Real Roberts?
Upon close examination of her family tree, Gates Jr. discovered that Julia's great-great-grandmother gave birth to her great-grandfather 10 years after her great-great-grandfather Willis Roberts had passed away. The couple Willis and Rhoda had been together during the 1850s, a relationship that was brought to a sad end with the former's demise.
Julia was shocked to receive the news, as anyone would be who finds out that they're not who they thought they were their entire life. The host went on to inform her that public information links Henry McDonald Mitchell Jr. as Julia's real great-great-grandfather.
From what historical records reveal, Rhoda and Henry's mother resided four homes away from one another so it is safe to assume that their romance must have started here. Additionally, the coupling wasn't a one-night stand gone wrong - rather, Rhoda and Henry were known to be lovers.
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The historian also informed Roberts that around the late 1800s, Henry McDonald Mitchell Jr.'s name vanished from the document trail. However, Gates Jr. revealed that the origins of both his and Julia Roberts' genealogy may be traced back to colonial Virginia in the 18th century.
This change, according to the 55-year-old actress, "was really unexpected."
