Late Civil Rights leader Coretta Scott King, the widow of the late Martin Luther King Jr, had a closer relationship to Hollywood star Julia Roberts than most people realize, for it was recently revealed that she paid for the hospital costs when Roberts was born.

King, who recently passed away after losing her battle against ovarian cancer, befriended Roberts’ actor parents when they agreed to give her children drama lessons.

According to a family source, King, on hearing that Roberts’ mother had gone into labour, not only went to the hospital but also insisted on covering the costs of the hospital stay as a thank you for the their kindnesses towards black children in Atlanta, Georgia, where they were based.

The friend said that Julia Roberts had been touched and surprised when she found out.

“Julia was touched and surprised when she found out. Coretta is one of the reasons Julia uses her millions to help charities working with young children and projects to save the environment,” Contactmusic quoted the friend, as saying.