There's no question that Julia Roberts looked great Friday at the American Cinematheque tribute at the Beverly Hilton. After having given birth to her third child in June (and she turns 40 in a few weeks), the actress looked fanflippingtastic in a black, short-sleeved belted gown that showed off a surprisingly slender post-baby shape. She should give Britney diet tips. Seriously.

Unfortunately, Julia's attitude towards red carpet interviews hasn't mellowed with motherhood. The fact is, Julia Roberts should not walk red carpets. She hates it. And it shows.

When a young TV reporter asked Julia something along the lines of whether raising three children and having an acting career was difficult, Julia grew noticeably terse. Instead of saying something innocuous or funny, she dissed the query with,"Not at all. I prefer being home."   

"Garry Marshall said that he saw something special in you when he  cast you in 'Pretty Woman,' " another TV reporter blurted out, desperately hoping that flattery would elicit a usable sound bite from the actress. "What do you think that something special was?"

Julia sniffed and dismissively retorted, "I have no idea. And I hope I never do."

Ouch.

Actually, what Garry - and most of the other stars who walked and talked on the tribute carpet - said about Julia is that she's open, emotionally available, honest and real. To see Julia's onstage act, which is way more personable than her red carpet talk-to-press act, watch AMC on Dec. 5th.

Photo Credits: There's that adorable, real, honest and infectious JR chortle backstage at the Cinematheque event Friday night. Wow, it's enough to make you fall in love with her all over again. Sadly, you'll never see or hear this laugh on a red carpet. On another note, what on earth is that on the roof of her mouth? Gum? Or (shudder) more teeth? Or is a device that emits that trademark shrieking laughter when she presses it with her tongue?
Photo Credits: WireImage