The first thing you notice when you rewatch Julie & Julia isn't the butter. It’s the height. Or, more accurately, the way the Julie & Julia cast was manipulated to make us believe Meryl Streep was a 6-foot-2 force of nature. Streep is actually 5’6”. To bridge that eight-inch gap, the production team used some of the oldest tricks in the book: forced perspective, massive heels hidden under long skirts, and countertops built specifically lower than standard height to make her loom over the kitchen like a culinary titan.
Honestly, it’s those little details that keep this 2009 Nora Ephron film on our "comfort watch" lists years later. It wasn't just a movie about a blogger; it was a masterclass in ensemble chemistry. You’ve got the 1950s Parisian glamour clashing against a cramped 2002 apartment in Queens, and somehow, the cast makes both worlds feel like home.
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The Powerhouse Leads: Streep and Adams
Meryl Streep as Julia Child is the performance everyone remembers. She didn't just do an impression of that famous warbling voice; she captured the sheer, unadulterated joy of a woman who found her purpose at an age when most people are settling down. Streep actually gained about 15 pounds during filming because she insisted on eating the real food prepared on set. No "spit buckets" here. When you see her swoon over a piece of sole meunière, that’s genuine appreciation.
Then there’s Amy Adams as Julie Powell.
It’s a harder job than it looks. Playing a frustrated government worker who occasionally has a meltdown over a deboned duck isn't as "sparkly" as playing a legend in Paris. Adams had to ground the movie. She played Julie with a sort of winsome neurosis that felt painfully real to anyone who has ever started a project they weren't sure they could finish. Interestingly, this was the second time Adams and Streep shared a cast list—they’d just come off the much grittier Doubt, which makes their transition to boeuf bourguignon and pearls even more impressive.
The "Supportive Husbands" Club
We have to talk about Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina.
Tucci plays Paul Child, and if there were an Oscar for "Best Cinematic Husband," he would have won it. His chemistry with Streep is effortless, likely because they were already close friends after filming The Devil Wears Prada. In Julie & Julia, Paul is the steady anchor. He’s the one who buys Julia her first professional cookbook and tells her, "You are the butter to my bread."
On the flip side, Chris Messina plays Eric Powell. He’s the modern-day equivalent—the guy who has to deal with a messy kitchen and a wife who is increasingly obsessed with a woman who died years ago. Messina brings a lot of "sturdy" energy to the role. He’s the audience surrogate, the guy wondering why on earth they’re eating so much cream at 11:00 PM on a Tuesday.
Key Supporting Players You Might Have Missed
- Jane Lynch: She pops up as Dorothy McWilliams, Julia’s sister. Standing at 6'0", she was one of the few actors who didn't need camera tricks to look like a Child.
- Linda Emond: Plays Simone "Simca" Beck, Julia’s French collaborator. Her stern but loving dynamic with Julia provides the necessary friction in the "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" origin story.
- Mary Lynn Rajskub: Known for 24, she plays Julie’s best friend Sarah, capturing that specific early-2000s New York energy perfectly.
- Frances Sternhagen: A quick but delightful appearance as the legendary Irma Rombauer (author of The Joy of Cooking).
Why the Casting Worked (and Still Works)
Nora Ephron had a knack for finding actors who felt like they lived in the clothes. The Julie & Julia cast didn't just recite lines; they inhabited a very specific philosophy about the "good life."
The film was actually the first major Hollywood production based on a blog. Back then, that was a huge risk. They needed a cast that could make "writing on the internet" feel as high-stakes as "founding a cooking school in post-war France." By casting Streep and Adams, Ephron ensured the movie had enough weight to bridge those two very different eras.
There’s a common misconception that the two leads spent a lot of time together on set. In reality, they almost never saw each other. The production was split. The Julia Child segments were filmed with a different vibe, color palette, and energy than the Julie Powell segments. It’s a testament to the editing and the performances that the movie feels like a singular conversation between two women who never actually met.
Realism Behind the Scenes
The food was a character in itself.
Amy Adams has mentioned in interviews that the most useful skill she walked away with was learning how to properly poach an egg. That’s the kind of practical, human touch that makes the performances feel lived-in. When the actors are actually struggling with the physics of an omelet, you feel it.
If you’re looking to revisit the film or dive deeper into the history, start by watching some original clips of Julia Child’s The French Chef. It makes you appreciate Streep’s work even more—not as a parody, but as a soulful recreation of a woman who truly believed that no one is alone in the kitchen.
To get the most out of your next rewatch, pay attention to the background actors in the Le Cordon Bleu scenes. One of the bridge teachers in the film is actually Julia Child’s real-life grand-niece, Julia Prud’homme. It’s those tiny, factual connections that give the movie its enduring heart.
Start by comparing the film's depiction of the "servantless American cook" with the actual letters found in My Life in France. It provides a whole new layer of appreciation for how Tucci and Streep played their roles.
Practical Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Source: Rent or stream The French Chef on PBS to see the real Julia Child’s timing.
- Read the Letters: Pick up As Always, Julia, which features the real correspondence between Julia Child and Avis DeVoto (played by Deborah Rush in the movie).
- Cook the Signature: Try the Boeuf Bourguignon recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking—it’s the emotional climax of the film for a reason.