In times of joy and tragedy, the first person Julia Roberts turns to is her mother Betty. And now more than ever she needs that supportive shoulder as the turmoil from her latest romance threatens to engulf her.

Betty Roberts, 66, jetted in to Los Angeles from her Atlanta home to console her daughter, whose affair with a married man has hit the headlines and caused considerable grief.

“My mom is like a sister. That’s how close we are,” says Julia. “I’m completely devoted to her. That’s the Southern way. She taught me how to act in life. She taught me manners and to have respect for all people.”

Julia is trying desperately to untangle her complex love life right now. No sooner had the dust settled on the fallout from Julia’s failed relationship with Benjamin Bratt than it was revealed that the increasingly unpredictable Hollywood star was dating a married cameraman, Danny Moder, whom she met on the set of her recent movie The Mexcian.

For the full story on Julia’s new love-life setbacks, see this week’s issue of HELLO! magazine.