The ¡®Eat, Pray, Love¡¯ actress utilised to dream of spending her life helping animals, but fell into acting because all her family work in the organization.

Julia ¨C whose brother Eric Roberts and sister Lisa Roberts Gillan are actors and whose mother and father, Betty Lou and Walter Roberts, were at one-time actors and playwrights - said: ¡°I wanted to be a vet. I love animals, but then I discovered how tough science could be. My parents and siblings are all actors, so I grew up around it.¡±

Even though she loves her career, the 42-year-old star admits she doesn¡¯t believe acting is really a very tough skill to master.

She explained: ¡°It¡¯s a fantastic way to observe human behaviour and how folks react to issues. It¡¯s like grown-up pretend. My daughter does it all day, I just get paid for it.¡±

In addition to showing an interest in animals, Julia is also passionate about the atmosphere.

She told Stylist magazine: ¡°It¡¯s likely my greatest concern, besides my babies. My husband and I spend most of the year away from Hollywood in California, where we support Heal The Bay, a non-profit organisation dedicated to keeping Southern California¡¯s coastal waters clean. I also drive a biodiesel car and we compost everything. It is a big commitment with three kids, but there¡¯s so significantly valuable waste, you sort of have to.¡±