21 JANUARY 2005

Julia Roberts' legion of fans had been bracing themselves for a long wait after the actress declared she was taking an extended break from movie-making. The 37-year-old, who recently welcomed twins, said she would be taking time out from her career to concentrate all her energies on being a mum.

But it would seem the Oscar-winning performer has had a change of heart, as she has agreed to play the title role in an animated version of the children's story Charlotte's Web. In the flick Julia will provide the voice of the spider Charlotte, who teams up with a little girl to help her save their friend Wilbur the Pig.

The news will come as a relief to her fans, because she was expected to be out of action for quite some time. "Julia says she is taking at least five years off from movie-making to raise her twins," revealed her personal trainer Kathy Kaehler last August.

The actress gave birth to Hazel and Phinnaeus in November, a few months after finishing work on the crime caper Oceans Twelve. The babies were born five weeks early and Hazel, who weighed in at just 4lb 5oz, had to be placed in an incubator after suffering breathing problems. Both she and her brother were given the all clear and allowed home two weeks later, though.

Julia's decision to get back to work mirrors that of Gwyneth Paltrow, who likewise vowed to take a prolonged break when she became a mum. The Shakespeare In Love star, who welcomed baby Apple in May, is to star opposite Annette Bening in the comedy drama Running With Scissors.

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