Why did Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt split? What we know as actress’ ex lands Star Wars spinoff

Benjamin Bratt, 61, is now a part of the iconic Star Wars universe. He has joined the franchise to play Senator Bail Organa's role in the Disney+ series Andor's second season.

The actor will be seen in a captivating look in this brand-new season. Previously, fans saw Jimmy Smits as the on-screen Organa in many Star Wars projects. However, Bratt signed the role for the forthcoming series, as the former star could not commit time due to his prior professional ties with the CBS series East New York, the Daily Mail reported.

Recently, Benjamin Bratt spoke to the Good Morning America chat show and conversed about his upcoming project and his role. He is back to making headlines for the much-anticipated Season 2 of Andor.

Decades ago, the Despicable Me actor was often in the spotlight for his relationship with Julia Roberts, 57, apart from news about his projects. In June 2001, they called it quits amicably, without revealing any controversial reason for their split.

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Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt's relationship timeline explored

They met at a restaurant

In 1997, the estranged couple came across one another at a restaurant, according to an InStyle report. In a 1999 conversation with Vanity Fair, the Notting Hill star recalled the moment he met his former boyfriend.

"[Bratt] walked in, and I looked up at him, and it was like something hit me over the head with a bat."

Their hangouts sparked dating rumors

Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt were often spotted spending time together. Though they kept things low-key initially, they started attending events and posing in front of the paparazzi as time passed.

They publicly confirmed their relationship

Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt took time to announce their relationship status to the world. While they have been together since 1997, they acknowledged and spoke about their love publicly only in 1999.

In an episode of Oprah Winfrey's talk show, Julia expressed her happiness and excitement to spend time with Benjamin. Recalling special moments, she shared,

"We're just ecstatically happy. We're drunk with joy 24 hours out of the day. We're sickening."

Julia and Benjamin broke up in 2001

They were one of Hollywood's most beloved couples back in the day. From their personal lives to flourishing professionally, it looked like they were living the best days together. However, Julia and Benjamin went their separate ways in June 2001.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Benjamin Bratt's publicist revealed that the couple were "no longer together."

Though Julia and Benjamin disclosed their breakup in 2001 only, New York Magazine detailed a buzz about their breakup about a year ago. The outlet reported,

"At this point, they haven't seen each other in months. It's not necessarily over, but it's certainly hit a crisis point."

Despite the couple's decision to call it quits, media tabloids continued with their gossip and clickbait headlines.

Following the breakup, Julia expressed her concerns over the continuous speculations by different media outlets on an episode of the Late Show with David Letterman.

She admitted,

"It's come to a kind and tenderhearted end, and my only regret is that the media can't accept that it's tenderhearted and kind." [The media] has to make it messy and ugly."

Reflecting on Benjamin Bratt and their past relationship, the Eat, Pray, Love actress later continued,

"I love Benjamin. He's a good man, he's a fine man. He is, to the exultation of the female single population, not my man anymore. Sad, but true, and not ugly, not because of anyone else, parting of the ways. There you go. We're both just two kids trying to find our way in the world."

In a 2002 conversation with Vanity Fair, Benjamin Bratt also opened up about his feelings on remaining in the limelight, attracting unnecessary attention.

"I wasn't so naïve as to go into that relationship thinking, 'this will be an entirely normal experience.' You don't build your house in a redwood grove if you don't like shade."

The actor also chimed in,

"I experienced that living at that level of visibility is something that doesn't appeal to me. And I discovered it can't really appeal to anyone. Even she, as well as other people of that magnitude of fame, doesn't enjoy it."

Recalling those experiences, he further continued,

"It's like a fly that won't leave you alone. It's that mosquito that buzzes in your ear when you're trying to sleep at night. You turn the light on, and you can't find it. You turn the light off, and it comes back again. It's constant and ever present, and it disrupts any chance of peace ... When you live your life at that level of fame, it gets beyond your control. By the time you realize it, you're stuck."

Around a year after the celebrity couple broke things off, they found love again and tied the knot with their respective partners. In July 2002, Julia Roberts married cinematographer Daniel Moder. The same year, Benjamin Bratt married actress Talisa Soto in September.