Julia Roberts reveals her favorite role: Mommy

If you want to know just how thrilled Julia Roberts is to be nominated for a Golden Globe for a sixth time, just listen to her describe the normal high point in a day in the life of a mother of three children all under the age of 4.

“Usually the triumph of my day is everybody making it to the potty,” the actress told TODAY co-host Matt Lauer in an interview broadcast on Friday. “So, yes,” she said of the nomination for best supporting actress in a comedy for her role in “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “I think it's thrilling.”

Particularly thrilling was the opportunity to co-star next to Tom Hanks, who plays the title role of the true story of the bon vivant Texas congressman who helped the mujahadeen in Afghanistan defeat an occupying Soviet Army some 20 years ago.

Roberts plays Joanne Herring, the high-brow, wealthy and conservative lover of the liberal — and libertine — Congressman Charlie Wilson, and the woman who prods him to action.

Together with CIA agent Gust Avrakotos, played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Roberts and Wilson secure the funding to supply the Afghani freedom fighters with arms and travel throughout the Middle East forging alliances among Pakistanis, Israelis and Egyptians against the Soviets.

“I do think Tom is probably the most honest person on screen and off screen that I've ever spent time with, acting-wise,” Roberts told Lauer. “He's just amazing.”

Roberts’ nomination was just one of many pulled down by “Charlie Wilson’s War,” which was nominated for Best Comedy. In addition, Hanks was nominated for best actor and Hoffman for best supporting actor in a comedy.

The movie, directed by Mike Nichols and written by Aaron Sorkin, has been praised for its witty and rapid-fire dialogue.

“I think it's politically fascinating,” Robertssaid. “And, I think that the characters that I play and Tom Hanks and Philip Seymour Hoffman, they're not slouches. They're such fully realized characters. And Aaron Sorkin wrote this great dialogue.”

Back to work
The 40-year-old Roberts became a superstar in 1990 as Vivian Ward in “Pretty Woman” opposite Richard Gere. She followed with a string of hits, including “Erin Brokoovich,” for which she won an Academy Award, “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Sleeping with the Enemy,” “The Pelican Brief” and “Runaway Bride.”

But after the release of “Ocean’s Twelve” in 2004, she took a break as she and her husband since 2002, cameraman Daniel Moder, became the parents of twins, Hazel and Finn, in late 2004. In June, she gave birth to their third child, Henry. She appeared in a Broadway play last year and also did the voices for characters in two animated films, “Charlotte’s Web” and “The Ant Bully.”

But she’s back working full-time, with four movies scheduled to come out next year.

Socially conscious — she likes to grow her own organic vegetables and built a “green” home in California — Roberts brought along a bracelet she designed for Giorgio Armani’s Red Campaign. Available in both men’s and women’s models, proceeds from the sales go to combat AIDS in Africa.

“What else is going on in your life?” Lauer asked her.

“Nothing,” she replied. “Just, you know, getting ready for Christmas like everybody else.” Her twins, she said, are at an age when they can really appreciate the holiday.

“They're just starting to figure out Christmas and the specific holiday.  It's a good food holiday in our house,” she said. 

“What’s the hot gift?” Lauer asked.

“I don’t know,” the low-key star confessed. “Can you tell me?”

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