Julia Roberts: Hollywood's 'Tuesday Mahjong Queen' Finds Order in Chaos
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Julia Roberts, the Academy Award-winning star of Pretty Woman, has become an unexpected ambassador for mahjong in Hollywood. During her November 1, 2019 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Roberts revealed she plays mahjong every Tuesday with a group of eight friends at her home, sparking a wave of interest in the traditional Chinese game among Western audiences . Her philosophical reflections on mahjong—describing it as a practice of "creating order out of chaos" that mirrors life—were widely shared by Chinese media outlets including China Daily and CCTV, propelling her to the status of an unlikely cultural bridge between East and West .
Key Points
- Julia Roberts plays mahjong every Tuesday with eight friends, including her niece Emma Roberts, at her Los Angeles home
- During her November 1, 2019 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Roberts quoted her friend Elizabeth as saying mahjong represents "creating order out of chaos, sort of like life"
- Roberts emphasized that her mahjong games involve no gambling or drinking, describing them as gatherings focused on conversation, food, and reconnecting with friends
- The actress learned the game from her friend Elizabeth and was further mentored by Johni Levene, a Los Angeles mahjong collector who runs the "Mah Jongg, That's It!" community and praised Roberts as an "expert-level" player
- Her appearance on Colbert's show triggered widespread media coverage in China, with her mahjong philosophy being repeatedly cited by China Daily, CCTV, and numerous Weibo accounts
Why It Matters
Roberts' public embrace of mahjong challenges Western stereotypes associating the game with gambling or Chinatown culture, instead presenting it as a sophisticated practice for mindfulness and social connection. As a global icon, her endorsement introduces this traditional Chinese game to new audiences and contributes to the ongoing cultural exchange phenomenon dubbed "Chinamaxxing," where young Westerners adopt elements of Chinese lifestyle for personal well-being .
Roberts' public embrace of mahjong challenges Western stereotypes associating the game with gambling or Chinatown culture, instead presenting it as a sophisticated practice for mindfulness and social connection. As a global icon, her endorsement introduces this traditional Chinese game to new audiences and contributes to the ongoing cultural exchange phenomenon dubbed "Chinamaxxing," where young Westerners adopt elements of Chinese lifestyle for personal well-being .