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On holiday with her husband, cinematographer Daniel Moder, 40, and their children, the 41-year-old Pretty Woman (1990) star showed her confidence to cut a gorgeous figure on the beach in a flattering polka dot bikini after having given birth to twins Hazel and Phinnaeus four years ago and Henry, just 22 months ago. Complete with post-natal stretch marks, Roberts proved to the public she hadn't been anywhere near a surgeon's knife to get a 'perfect' bod back — and indeed, why should she?

There's a worrying trend with Hollywood mums to get back to their pre-baby weight in record time, with celebrities such as Nicole Richie and Jessica Alba going to extremes to return to their tiny frames after giving birth. While Julia Roberts is admittedly still sporting a figure most women would die for, stretch marks and all, she's not afraid to let those tell-tale signs of pregnancy show. Roberts represents a much healthier role-model for real women and the type of self-esteem society should be cultivating for women of all ages.

Roberts recently told a UK newspaper that she feels gorgeous because her children think she's gorgeous and that's down to their father. She said, "I realise that's all down to my husband. They're seeing the things he does and the way we share our feelings."

It was a rare public appearance for Roberts who, despite her enviable physique, insists she has no desire to flaunt her body in front of the camera. At the height of her career, Roberts could command £17million per film and famously hired a body double for her love scenes in Pretty Woman. She said, 'I won't do nudity in films. To act with my clothes on is a performance. To act with my clothes off is a documentary.'

Like many women, Roberts' priorities changed when she had children and since then she has scaled down her career to concentrate on raising her family. 'You have a baby and you just want to stay home and stay in your elasticated waist pants,' she said recently.

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