It looks like Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt are back on the wagon when it comes to relationships.
Though Roberts once declared to Oprah Winfrey that she and Bratt were “drunk with joy twenty-four hours a day,” the once-happy couple has called it quits.
Publicists for both the Oscar-winning actress and her companion of 3½ years have confirmed the news and insist that, despite rumors, there was no third party involved. The two agreed to go their separate ways about a month ago.
According to a story in the New York Post on Thursday, Bratt ended the relationship with Roberts because of the budding friendship the actress was developing with Ocean’s Eleven co-star George Clooney. Shooting for the film took place in Las Vegas and Atlantic City throughout the winter.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in April that Clooney and Roberts “put on a steamy show on the dance floor” at the film’s wrap party in Sin City. Clooney was seeing British model Lisa Snowdon at the time, but the two have since broken up.
However, the Daily News puts a different spin in the break-up, citing Roberts‘ career as the obstacle to the couple’s bliss. Sources reportedly told the paper that Bratt saw Roberts‘ career as a conflict to his plans and that the actress was hemming and hawing about committing to marriage.
Bratt, 37, became known to TV viewers in 1995 when he joined the hit NBC series Law and Order in its sixth season, creating the role of Reyaldo ‘Rey’ Curtis. His film credits include Traffic and Miss Congeniality. He is currently in Montreal filming Abandon with Katie Holmes.
Roberts has a history with her co-stars that goes back to 1988, when she moved in with Liam Neeson after the two met on the set of Satisfaction. Two years later, she was briefly engaged to her Steel Magnolias co-star Dylan McDermott.
In 1991, Roberts almost made it to the altar with Flatliners co-star Kiefer Sutherland, but the nuptial plans fell through just days before the wedding. She wed singer Lyle Lovett two years later, but they divorced in 1995.
Roberts and Bratt have been together since 1997. Bratt was at the actress’ side when she picked up an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Erin Brockovich in March. It almost looked as though the “Pretty Woman” had finally met her match with Bratt. Guess not.
Roberts will star in the upcoming comedy America’s Sweethearts with John Cusack and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
