MLK & Coretta Scott King Paid Hospital Bill For Julia Roberts’s Birth

A little-known fact about Pretty Woman actress Julia Roberts?

Her family was apparently tight with Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King — the civil rights leaders even paid the hospital bill after Julia was born.

Former strategic advisor for Barack Obama, Zara Rahim, made the internet more aware of this under-the-radar connection.

She tweeted a clip of Julia fondly recalling the story during a interview hosted by Gayle King.

“Today is Julia Roberts’ birthday! 55 years ago MLK and Coretta Scott King paid for her parents hospital bill after she was born,” Zara captioned the video. “Can’t stop thinking about this since I read it. Here she is talking about it with Gayle King.”

During the interview, Gayle asked Julia about the hospital bill, to which Julia laughed and joked that Gayle’s research was impressive. “The King family paid for my hospital bill. Martin Luther King and Coretta,” she confirmed.

As it turns out, Julia’s parents ran a theater school in Atlanta called the Actors’ and Writers’ Workshop.

According to the actress, Coretta called her mother and asked if her kids could attend. At the time, the Kings were having a difficult time finding a place where their kids would be accepted. Julia’s mother, Betty Lou, immediately welcomed them with open arms.

Julia explained that soon after that, “They all became friends” and the King family “helped [them] out of a jam.” She also noted that her parents were unable to pay the bill at the time.

During the interview, King pointed out, “In the ’60s, you didn’t have little black children interacting with little white kids in acting school. And Julia’s parents were welcoming, and I think that’s extraordinary, and it lays the groundwork for who Julia is.”

“Absolutely,” Julia agreed.

Rahim isn’t the only one fascinated by Roberts’ history with the King family; her tweet has nearly 47,000 likes.