News broke yesterday that Julia Roberts is filming a new movie in Tuscany and has been spotted out and about in Florence. Florence’s latest and greatest celebrity-at-large also happens to be one of my favorite actresses (because I am quite original). I’ve been plotting how I might ‘accidentally’ bump into her, exuding the casual elegance of America’s sweetheart herself and somehow eluding the ‘Desperate Fan’ designation.
The news of her Tuscan visit comes at a rather inconvenient time, however, since TF has officially entered its start-of-summer scramble and we will all be huddled over our computers for the next few days finishing up work. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will probably not get to see my idol in person, but still had to find a creative way to welcome her to the city. As part of my ongoing struggle to separate favorite actors from their on-screen personas, I created mini-Florentine itineraries for several of the characters Roberts has played.
ERIN BROCKOVICH, Erin Brockovich
Let’s recap: Erin Brockovich is a no-nonsense, street-smart single mom and legal clerk who has a rude awakening about corporate greed. Spearheading a major class-action lawsuit, she manages to put Pacific Gas & Electric Company in its place after revelations that the company kept quiet about community-wide contaminated water. Without implying any prejudice against General Electric, I’d suggest she stay away from the Rifredi area in the interest of not triggering any painful memories. But since she’s curious, driven and a dynamite detective, I think Erin could have a ball in the reading room at the Biblioteca Marucelliana; sipping coffee and surfing the Internet at the Biblioteca delle Oblate; or applying her stellar research skills at the Archivio di Stato.
VIVIAN WARD, Pretty Woman
Who could forget the scene in Pretty Woman when pretty-but-naive Vivian is shooed away from the super-chic shop in Beverly Hills? My lower lip is quivering just thinking about it. Via Tornabuoni may not be Rodeo Drive, but I’d still suggest that pre-makeover Vivian steer clear of the luxe labels. I’d send her shopping in the boutiques sprinkled around the Oltrarno, particularly via Santo Spirito and via Romana. Proprietors of vintage are generally quite welcoming, so I’d suggest she check out a couple of my personal picks on Borgo degli Albizi and via Ghibellina. (If you were waiting for a Cascine quip—sorry, I’m not going there).
LIZ GILBERT, Eat Pray Love
Perhaps the most controversial character of the bunch—equal parts revered and resented—the protagonist of Eat Pray Love should lie low. We’d suggest she spend her time sampling gelato and people-watching on piazza benches in the San Niccolò area. Something tells me she’d go nuts for the views and the quiet at San Miniato al Monte as well.
Throughout the Italy portion of this movie, Liz dedicated herself wholeheartedly to ‘il dolce di far niente’ or ‘the sweetness of doing nothing’—it was even her stated mission. So, naturally, if we bumped into her on the street today, we’d tell her to head home and come back in August, when this sort of attitude and approach to life is acceptable. In our frantic frenzy to finish up our work before attempting to take a slight summer break, we’d fear for Liz’s safety were she to come near us this week.
