When Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington shared the screen in The Pelican Brief (1993), audiences witnessed two of Hollywood’s brightest stars delivering electric performances. But behind the scenes, their connection extended beyond the set — one that would quietly influence Roberts’s craft for decades to come.
In a recent interview, Roberts unveiled a long-kept story that offers rare insight into Denzel Washington’s quiet mentorship and the enduring power of simple wisdom.
A Package and a Note
“After we wrapped The Pelican Brief, Denzel sent me a small package,” Roberts recalled. “Inside were three books — all completely different — and a tiny note that simply said, ‘Truth always finds its way.’”
Just five words. Yet, according to Roberts, they became the foundation of her artistic philosophy.
“At the time, I didn’t really understand what he meant,” she admitted with a laugh. “But Denzel doesn’t give advice directly — he plants seeds.”
Three Books, One Lesson
The books Washington chose — Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke, The Art of Acting by Stella Adler, and Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl — became transformative for Roberts.
“I realized that he was teaching me something about truth, not just in performance but in life,” she said. “Each of those books dealt with honesty — in art, in pain, in humanity. That’s what makes Denzel extraordinary: he’s always searching for truth, even when the camera isn’t rolling.”
The gift, she explained, was less about acting technique and more about grounding oneself in authenticity — the ability to find real emotion in every role and to understand the world through empathy and sincerity.
A Lesson That Lasted
Over thirty years later, Roberts still turns to those same books before starting a new project. “Before every role, I open one of those books,” she said. “Sometimes I even read the note. It reminds me that acting isn’t about pretending — it’s about finding what’s real.”
From Erin Brockovich to Eat Pray Love to Ben Is Back, that philosophy has shaped her approach — blending heart, intelligence, and vulnerability in performances that have earned her both critical acclaim and lasting admiration.
A Mentor Without Saying Much
When asked if she ever told Denzel how much his gesture meant to her, Roberts smiled knowingly.
“He probably already knows,” she said. “That’s the thing about Denzel — he teaches you something and then disappears like it was nothing. But those five words? They follow you for life.”
Truth Always Finds Its Way
Today, Roberts keeps the note framed in her home office — a quiet reminder of a moment that helped define her artistic path.
In an industry often driven by spectacle and fame, it’s a story that underscores something deeper: that true mentorship isn’t loud or public — it’s personal, intentional, and lasting.
And as Roberts says, those five words continue to echo through every role she takes:
“Truth always finds its way.”
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