The video: A-list American actors often supplement their incomes by appearing in advertisements abroad. Brad Pitt and John Travolta, for example, have shilled for cell phones and soft drinks in Japan. Usually, though, the stars must at least utter a line or two to earn their hefty paychecks. Not so Julia Roberts, who remains silent throughout her new 45-second spot for Italy's Lavazza Coffee. (View the clip below.) Instead of talking, she merely poses as Botticelli's Venus, then flashes her famous megawatt smile after drinking a presumably tasty espresso. Roberts was paid a reported $1.5 million for this minimal effort.
The reaction: Roberts' pay may seem high, says Dan Hopper at Best Week Ever, but "that’s pretty much the going rate for getting Julia Roberts to stand, drink coffee, and smile (each action is 500k)." Don't discount her work in the ad, says Jessica Coen at Jezebel. "She does make three or four facial expressions, including 'contemplative' and 'joyous.'" Watch Julia Roberts' coffee commercial:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why does the U.S. need China's rare earth metals?Today's Big Question Beijing has a 'near monopoly' on tech's raw materials
-
When did divorce begin?The Explaine Couples have always split up, but the institution has undergone major changes over the years
-
What are your retirement savings account options?The explainer The two main types of accounts are 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs)
