Being Julia is a 2004 comedy-drama film directed by István Szabó and starring Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons. The screenplay by Ronald Harwood is based on the novel Theatre (1937) by W. Somerset Maugham. The original film score was composed by Mychael Danna.

In 1938 London, popular theater actress Julia Lambert is growing disillusioned with her career as she approaches middle age, prompting her to ask her husband, stage director Michael Gosselyn, and his financial backer Dolly de Vries to close her current production to allow her time to travel abroad. They persuade her to remain with the play throughout the summer. Always hovering in the background and offering counsel is the spirit of her mentor, Jimmie Langton, the theatrical manager who gave Julia her start and made her a star. Julia confesses to Evie, her personal maid and dresser, that she would love to let herself go and retire so she can stop eating salad and drink as much beer as she likes.

Michael introduces her to Tom Fennel, an enterprising American, who confesses his love of her work. Despite loving Micheal, Julia misses the passion they once had, and wants to fill the void left by her former lover, Lord Charles, who recently broke off their relationship.

Julia embarks on a passionate affair with Tom and supports him so he may enjoy the glamorous lifestyle to which she has introduced him. Their relationship revives her, sparking a change in her personality.

Michael suggests they invite Tom to spend time at their country estate, where he can become better acquainted with their son, Roger, who is only slightly younger. At a party there, Tom meets aspiring actress Avice Crichton. When Julia sees him flirting with Avice, she becomes jealous and angrily confronts him. He slowly reveals himself to be a gold-digging gigolo, but Julia is reluctant to end the affair.

Avice, now romantically involved with Tom, asks him to bring Julia to see her perform in a play in the hope that this will lead to Micheal casting her in Julia's upcoming project. The play is dreadful, and Avice is not much better. Backstage, Julia compliments her even-worse co-star and barely acknowledges Avice, but promises to tell Michael about her. Afterwards, she forces Tom to admit he loves Avice and is heartbroken when he does. Tom then tells Julia he is "fond" of her. She pretends to be gracious as their affair ends, and assures him she will insist the ingenue be cast in her next play.

When Julia's performance in her current play begins to suffer from her personal discontent, Michael closes the production, so she visits her mother and her Aunt Carrie in Jersey, where Lord Charles comes to visit her. Julia suggests a romantic tryst, but he tells her that he is gay. The two laugh and agree to remain close friends. Meanwhile, back in London, Avice auditions for Michael and is cast in a key supporting role.

Julia returns home to begin rehearsals for the new play. She eventually learns from Roger that Avice has been one of Michael's casual trysts. Still, she is solicitous toward the girl, making suggestions that place her in the spotlight and insisting her own wardrobe be drab to allow Avice to shine.