Actress Julia Roberts Reveals She Is Now Hindu

People in the entertainment industry are often attracted to the esoteric, mystical or eastern religions of the world. Madonna, Demi Moore and a slew of other celebrities have embraced the Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). Not that I consider Scientology a religion (although Scientologists do) but it too can claim another slew of famous people, including John Travolta and Tom Cruise. Richard Gere and Steven Seagal are Buddhists (as are several others). And last but not last, although not very many that I know of have converted to Hinduism, we can add Julia Roberts to a few like George Harrison (The Beatles) and Christopher Isherwood.

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Yes, Julia Roberts, 42, who is starring in "Eat, Pray, Love" (which is about to open nationwide in movie theatres across the U.S.) recently revealed to Elle Magazine that she and her husband are practicing Hindus. The film, based on the memoirs of Elizabeth Gilbert recounts the author's search for romantic and spiritual fulfillment during a trek across the globe. At one point Gilbert apparently dabbled with Hinduism, and some say that perhaps this was how Roberts was introduced to Hinduism, while shooting at an Ashram in India last year. Hindus are praising the film for it's positive introduction to Hinduism, although the shoot wasn't without issues.

The actress caused controversy in India last September when local Hindus were barred from celebrating an important religious festival while she shot scenes for the film in their temple on the outskirts of New Delhi. Villagers hoping to mark the beginning of Navratri, nine days of worship of their Goddess Durga, at Ashram Hari Mandir found their temple sealed by Roberts's vast security team of 350 guards, bulletproof cars and a helicopter.

When asked about reincarnation in the interview, she said

"Golly, I've been so spoiled with my friends and family in this life," she tells Elle. "Next time I want to be just something quiet and supporting."

In addition to speaking about her new found spiritual beliefs she also spoke very candidly about the common practice among celebrities of botox and plastic surgery.

“It's unfortunate that we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society where women don't even give themselves a chance to see what they'll look like as older persons. I want to have some idea of what I'll look like before I start cleaning the slates," she said.

“I want my kids to know when I'm pissed, when I'm happy, and when I'm confounded. Your face tells a story ... and it shouldn't be a story about your drive to the doctor's office."

Good for her. It will be nice to see her age gracefully, if she doesn't succumb to Hollywood standards.

Sources Politics Daily and Telegraph UK