Julia Roberts, Ferré's new face

Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts has signed up to become the new face of fashion label Gianfranco Ferré.

The "Erin Brockovich" star will appear in the design house's new print advertising campaign, which will launch in January '06. And most fashion seers suspect that the star will also wear Ferré whenever she has the chance this awards season.

But Roberts reportedly wasn't the first choice for the job. One source told Us Weekly, "They wanted Katie Holmes but she said no, because she was pregnant."

Well, of course. Besides, Tom Cruise probably doesn't want Katie doing anything too physically demanding — like modeling — that might upset the first fetus.

Besides, Katie's really busy getting all those at-home sonograms.

Photo: Julia Roberts, the new face of Ferré, at a "Stars in the Sky" benefit in New York in April 2005.
(Jim Spellman / WireImage)