Steel Magnolias turned Julia Roberts into a star and the rest of us into sobbing messes who can appreciate the difference between blush and bashful. Relive the story of the 1989 Southern classic.

Julia Roberts has played plenty of iconic roles over the years — from Southern belle Shelby in Steel Magnolias to tough-as-nails Erin Brokovich in her Oscar-winning role. Still, there’s one movie that ...