Julia Roberts Takes a Quick Break During 2025 Gotham Awards Speech: ‘I Should Have Managed My Water Intake Better’

Julia Roberts graced the Gotham Awards 2025 with her signature glamour on October 1. The 58-year-old actress attended the prestigious event, held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, alongside director Luca Guadagnino, known for the film After the Hunt.

Roberts made a striking appearance in an oversized blue satin suit, paired with black stilettos, and her wavy red hair cascading over her shoulders. After their red carpet moments, Roberts and Guadagnino received the Visionary Tribute award during the ceremony, presented by her friend Paul Rudd, before the duo delivered a joint speech on stage.

“I not only had a great privilege of acting with Luca, but I will be acting as his interpreter,” Roberts humorously began, jokingly translating his English speech into Italian for the audience.

Sharing lighthearted moments, Roberts acknowledged the length of her speech, quipping, “I didn’t realize how long this was gonna go on and I didn’t regulate my water intake.” She expressed gratitude, stating, “Paul, thank you for those kind words. Everyone that is here living their creative dreams, thank you for doing that in a world that seems to be crumbling. This is the tape and the glue that keeps it together. One of my great dreams was to work with Luca Guadagnino, and now that I’ve done it once I just wanna keep on doing it.”

Prior to the event, it was confirmed that Roberts and Guadagnino would receive the Visionary Tribute for their work on the film. Jeffrey Sharp, Executive Director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute, praised their collaboration, highlighting Guadagnino’s “emotionally expressive storytelling” and Roberts’ “luminous, monumental performance” that enhances her impressive career.

Reflecting on the honor, Roberts stated, “I could not have imagined collaborating on this project with anyone other than Luca Guadagnino,” emphasizing the intricate connection necessary for portraying her character, Alma Imhoff. She remarked on Guadagnino’s unique understanding of human behavior and his meticulous attention to detail, expressing a desire to continue their partnership.

After the Hunt tells the story of Alma, a Yale University professor, who confronts personal and professional challenges when a star student accuses one of her colleagues, exposing dark secrets from her past.

Guadagnino, also 54, shared his reasons for casting Roberts. “I only cast the actors and actresses I fall in love with,” he stated, expressing his admiration for Roberts, whom he described as “everything” and “Cinema with a capital C.”

Apart from the Visionary Tribute awarded to Roberts and Guadagnino, other accolades included Jeremy Allen White and Scott Cooper receiving the Gotham Cultural Icon Tribute for Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman were honored with The Gotham Musical Tribute for their work on Song Sung Blue, while Noah Baumbach received the Director Tribute for Jay Kelly. Additionally, Tessa Thompson was awarded the Spotlight Tribute for Hedda, the cast of Sinners received the Ensemble Tribute, and Frankenstein was recognized with The Gotham Vanguard Tribute.