Julia Roberts shares rare photo to celebrate son Henry’s 18th birthday milestone

Julia Roberts is beaming with pride as her youngest child, Henry, officially steps into adulthood. The Oscar-winning actress marked the occasion with a heartfelt social media tribute and a nostalgic photo—offering fans a rare glimpse into her fiercely protected family life. With her signature grace and warmth, Roberts is once again reminding the world that her favorite role is the one she plays at home: mom.

A golden birthday for Julia’s “golden boy”

On June 18, Julia Roberts took to Instagram to celebrate a special moment: her son Henry’s 18th birthday. The star, known for keeping her family life mostly out of the public eye, posted a rare throwback photo of a younger Henry wearing a green hoodie and gazing earnestly into the camera.

“In the blink of a joyful eye this beacon of a boy is ⚡️18⚡️,” she captioned the post. “I love you Henry. #goldenboy #goldenbirthday.” The post was more than just a birthday tribute—it marked a major milestone for the youngest child of Roberts and cinematographer Danny Moder. Henry is now legally an adult, and the celebratory tone of the post captured both a mother’s love and a sense of awe at how quickly time has passed.

A family kept mostly off the radar

Julia Roberts and Danny Moder have long prioritized privacy when it comes to their three children: twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, 20, and now-18-year-old Henry. Public appearances and photos of the kids are few and far between, making any glimpse into their family life feel especially significant for fans.

That’s why a sweet photo Moder posted this past Mother’s Day made headlines of its own. In the candid shot, Roberts is seen surrounded by all three of her children, beaming with pride. “Mothers make the coolest stuff,” Moder captioned the post. “Love these guys.”

The photo—and the simplicity of the caption—offered a glimpse into the kind of close-knit, joyful home Roberts and Moder have built together. Despite their high-profile careers, the couple has made a conscious effort to raise their children away from the spotlight, offering them what Roberts has often described as a “normal” upbringing.

The last one at home—and loving it

During a December 2023 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Roberts opened up about what life is like now that Henry is the only child left at home. With his twin siblings off at college, the actress said their home has taken on a different energy—but not an unwelcome one.

“I think it’s a good 50/50 split,” she laughed. “He’s loving it. And I think he misses his people.” It was a rare and candid insight into Roberts’ experience as a mother of older children. She described all three of her kids as doing “great,” adding that it’s been both rewarding and emotional to watch them begin to carve out their own lives. For Roberts, the bittersweet moments of change are softened by pride in who her children are becoming.

Choosing family without compromise

Roberts has often spoken about how her early success gave her the freedom to fully embrace motherhood when the time came. In a January 2024 interview with British Vogue, she reflected on the unique position she was in when starting her family.

“By the time I had the success of my family life and had a husband and children who wanted to stay at home, I had been working for 18 years,” she said. “And so I felt that I had the luxury. I didn’t have to pick one or the other.”

That “luxury,” as Roberts calls it, allowed her to put her career on pause and be fully present at home. She acknowledged how fortunate she was to make that choice without financial pressure—something many women do not have. “To be allowed the luxury of staying home and being with my family, I had a deep gratitude for that time,” she shared.

Roberts also expressed solidarity with working mothers, describing how some of her close friends juggled office jobs and parenting, often resorting to pumping breast milk in office bathrooms. Though she didn’t share those same logistical challenges, she experienced their struggles vicariously, gaining perspective and empathy.

Looking ahead with love

With Henry now officially 18, Roberts and Moder are entering a new chapter of parenthood. Though she has kept most of her children’s lives off social media, moments like this birthday tribute remind fans of the deep emotional bond she shares with her family—and the quiet joy she finds in raising them.

Whether she’s posing on red carpets or behind the camera at home, Julia Roberts continues to embody a rare blend of Hollywood icon and hands-on mom. Her tribute to Henry was more than a birthday wish; it was a love letter to a boy who’s grown into a young man under the gaze of someone who’s always put family first.