“Don’t Come an Inch Closer”: Teyana Taylor Recalls Emotional First Meeting With Julia Roberts

In the whirlwind of awards season, trophies and accolades often define the headlines. But for Teyana Taylor, one of the most unforgettable moments of her career had nothing to do with a statuette — and everything to do with meeting her idol, Julia Roberts.

As Taylor continues her triumphant run through the 2026 awards circuit — earning major recognition for her performance as Perfidia Beverly Hills in One Battle After Another — she recently opened up about the emotional moment she first met the Oscar-winning screen legend on the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards.

A Starstruck Reaction

Speaking ahead of accepting the Virtuosos Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Taylor admitted she was completely overwhelmed when Roberts was brought over to greet her at the Globes.

“Everybody knows that I love Julia Roberts. I’m obsessed with her,” Taylor said.

Instead of confidently stepping forward, Taylor instinctively did the opposite.

“They brought her over, and I looked, and I started backing up, and my eyes was watering, and she was coming closer,” she recalled.

Overcome with emotion, Taylor’s immediate response was unexpectedly firm:

“Don’t come an inch closer.”

But Roberts kept approaching — and the moment quickly transformed.

“And then I just dived into her arms and it was just so amazing,” Taylor said. “We became instant besties.”

Photos from the gala show the two actresses embracing warmly on the red carpet, radiating the kind of joy that can’t be rehearsed.

A Golden Moment on a Golden Night

The sweetness didn’t stop there. Later that evening, when Taylor won Best Supporting Actress, Roberts was on her feet cheering.

“She was standing up when I won and I just dived into her arms again,” Taylor gushed. “It was just so amazing. So yeah, she’s my bestie in my head, even if she don’t know it.”

The viral red carpet clip of their first meeting made waves online, particularly when Roberts playfully joked about Taylor’s tiny waist and told her she needed to “eat a sandwich.” While some social media users criticized the comment as insensitive, Taylor was quick to defend the Pretty Woman star during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

“I’ve seen people trying to get on her about that,” Taylor said. “I was like, ‘Hold on.’ She told me I needed a sandwich because she couldn’t find my waist… It was so cute.”

For Taylor, the exchange was affectionate and lighthearted — a memory she clearly treasures.

A Growing Circle of Hollywood Friends

Roberts may top Taylor’s admiration list, but she’s also been building connections with other stars throughout awards season. She shared that she frequently crosses paths with her Frankenstein co-stars Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac, describing them fondly as “my boys.”

“I feel like every single time we run into each other at an event, we just always cutting up. And I love it,” she said. “But I’ve made so many friends.”

Awards Season Momentum

Taylor’s emotional Golden Globes moment comes amid one of the most successful periods of her career. In addition to her Oscar nomination for One Battle After Another, her performance has earned her nominations at the upcoming BAFTAs and the 2026 Actor Awards.

Yet for all the prestige and recognition, it’s clear that meeting Julia Roberts — and sharing that spontaneous, heartfelt embrace — may remain the highlight of her awards journey.

Because sometimes, even in Hollywood, the most meaningful victories aren’t the ones handed to you on stage — they’re the ones that come with open arms on a red carpet.