20 Photogarphs of Julia Roberts as Daisy Arujo on the Set of “Mystic Pizza” (1988)

Filming Mystic Pizza (1988) in the fall of 1987 was the definitive breakthrough moment that put Julia Roberts on the map just two years before she achieved global superstardom. Only 19 years old when filming began, Roberts was a relatively unknown actress navigating her first major Hollywood experience. She was far from the first choice for the fiery, rebellious role of Daisy Araújo. Director Donald Petrie ultimately cast her because of her iconic, infectious, room-lighting laugh and her raw ability to hold her own alongside more experienced castmates.

Roberts later described the character of Daisy as being “full of fire and full of spice.” Playing a character who acted entirely without forethought gave the young actress a sense of a creative “free-for-all,” allowing her to feel completely uninhibited to say and do what she wanted in front of the camera. Decades later, during an Entertainment Weekly Cast Reunion, her co-stars recalled that Roberts was the cast member who consistently had the most fun on set, attributing it to her inherently happy, energetic nature.

While the movie is famously set in Mystic, Connecticut, the real-life Mystic Pizza parlor was too small to fit a 35mm Hollywood film crew and could not halt business operations. Instead, Roberts and the crew filmed restaurant interior scenes inside a simulated replica set built inside a nearby warehouse, as well as a converted home on Water Street in the neighboring town of Stonington. The pizza shop’s “secret sauce” is a major plot point in the movie. On set, however, Roberts and her co-stars handled a vibrant mixture of tomato paste and heavy food coloring designed specifically to pop vividly on 35mm film.

During the six-week shoot, Roberts, Lili Taylor, and Annabeth Gish formed close bonds while staying locally at the Mystic Hilton. The production also featured Matt Damon in his very first on-screen role at age 17. Today, the real Mystic Pizza Pizzeria in Connecticut operates as a major tourist destination and local gallery, displaying original production stills, behind-the-scenes memorabilia, and signed photos of Julia Roberts from the fall that changed her life forever.