haring her secret to ageless beauty, Julia Roberts says that true happiness is what “makes everybody the most gorgeous.”

With or without makeup, the legendary Hollywood star is as stunning at 56 as she was as a 23-year-old when, after her performance in Pretty Woman, she became a global phenomenon.

And if her smile is any indication of how “truly happy” she is, then it seems she’s found the fountain of youth…

Julius Roberts, who turned 56 in late October is known for her infectious smile and her warm, relatable personality.

The mother of three, who’s been married to Daniel Moder since 2002, has spent almost four decades sharing herself with the world.

The multiple award-winning star hit the big screen in 1988 with supporting roles in films like Satisfaction and Mystic Pizza, and then in her Golden Globe winning performance of the doomed Shelby in 1989s Steel Magnolias. But it was her appearance as the affable prostitute Vivian in the Cinderella-like story of Pretty Woman that cemented her role as a leading lady in Hollywood, and in the hearts of fans.

Since then, the Georgia native has evolved into one of Hollywood’s most loved and iconic stars.

You’d think with a portfolio like hers that the years would show on her face.

But, the star of Runaway Bride, who looks as radiant and beautiful as she did in her youth, says she’s not trying to reverse aging, rather “trying to have some peace with the aging process. Just realizing that it’s going to happen whether I like it or not.”

Then and now

And though aging is inevitable, seeing the star – as she is today – embracing her younger self in a photo is shocking.

With a little bit of magic, and a lot of photoshopping, Dutch artist Ard Gelinck created his celebrity “Then & Now” series, which he’s been sharing on Instagram since 2017.

The images show stars, like Jennifer Aniston, Leonardo DiCaprio, Keanu Reeves and Roberts, meeting their younger selves.

Robert’s beauty is unchanged.

Celebrating the Erin Brokovich star on her 56^th birthday, he captions the post: “Happy Birthday to Pretty Woman Julia Roberts.”

Natural beauty

Never shying away from showing her bare-faced beauty to her almost 12 million Instagram, it’s not surprising the icon is frequently out in public, makeup free.

Recently, paparazzi captured some images of the Notting Hill star, who was completely natural.

While a handful of netizens suggested she looks old – she’s not 23 anymore – the majority praised her for her natural beauty.

“From beautiful to aging woman,” one writes.

“Just her smile makes her look pretty,” a second cyber fan shares. “She’s aging beautifully, what a slender woman. Not a single crease,” pens another of the woman, who’s been named by People magazine as the most beautiful woman in the world five times.

Holding the record for that title, the star of Leave the World Behind told People that the secret to staying beautiful is happiness. “People who seem truly happy. That’s what makes everybody the most gorgeous.”

And, when asked by the New Zealand Herald how she defines the beauty, she replied, “It’s a cheerfulness.”