Julia Roberts in Erin Brokovich

In 2001, she won critical acclaim and finally received a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich, who helped wage a successful lawsuit against energy giant Pacific Gas & Electric. Her acceptance speech was one of the longest in Oscar history and became fodder for late-night comedians. At the same time, Roberts' win created a mild uproar in the film community because she had beaten out Ellen Burstyn's wrenching portrayal of Sara Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream. Roberts' win over Burstyn is frequently cited as an example of the Academy's tendency to award popularity over artistic merit. Subsequently, Roberts would team up with Erin Brockovich director Steven Soderbergh for three more films: Ocean's Eleven, Full Frontal, and Ocean's Twelve.