Julia Roberts' Favorite Hobby Is A Stress-Free Workout For The Brain

Although Julia Roberts is an avid reader, as evident by Roberts' list of favorite books full of modern classics, she has taken up another hobby that could be seen as more of a leisurely pastime. In fact, it's one that's practically synonymous with rocking chairs and slow Sunday afternoons: knitting. And it turns out the relaxing activity is also a good workout for the brain. 

The award-winning actor apparently learned the woolly art of working with yarn on a movie set some decades ago and "yeah, I've been knitting since," she told CBS Sunday Morning in 2024. "We called it our lonely meters. 'How lonely were you last night?' And we'd, like, pull out this much knitting. 'Look how lonely I was!'" she joked, while stretching her hand all the way up.

The self-proclaimed knitting pro spends her spare time creating all sorts of handmade creations these days, thanks to two talented teachers. "Sally Field taught me to needlepoint [while filming] 'Steel Magnolias,' and Eric Bart (scenic artist on 'The Pelican Brief') taught me how to knit," she said in a 2013 interview, according to the Inquirer. "I have been knitting a long time, so I think I am pretty good now. I made a bunch of stuff." For Roberts, it's an effortless hobby she can do anywhere because she can multitask while engaging with others. "The nice thing is, you can be very sociable while knitting. You don't have to be staring at it. So, it's a nice thing to do on a movie set," she said.

While it's interesting to see famous celebrities like Julia Roberts and Sally Field take up knitting and needlepoint, of all things, as a pastime, it's even more fascinating to learn that such sedentary activities can yield significant mental and emotional benefits. For many, the calming and soothing motion of knitting or crocheting for an extended time can be a form of meditation and relaxation that ultimately reduces stress. According to research by Dr. Herbert Benson, a behavioral medicine pioneer, repetitive activity such as knitting can initiate the relaxation response and further lower heart rate and blood pressure.

Several studies published by Women's Brain Health Initiative found that people who engaged in needlework activities had enhanced memory and cognitive function, as well as an improved sense of well-being and accomplishment. "The complex two-handed, coordinated patterns of movement involved in knitting makes the brain work hard,” said research coauthor Betsan Corkhill. Research also found that the chances of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was 30 to 50 percent lower for knitting aficionados. 

It's no wonder other celebs like Michelle Obama and Meryl Streep, and even younger stars like Amanda Seyfried and Tom Daley have picked up knitting as a hobby. Roberts' daughter has also taken a liking to this stress-free workout for the brain. "My daughter knows how to knit as well," she told the Inquirer. Meanwhile, other actors like Pamela Anderson have found the perfect stress-free workout through gardening.