Julia Roberts has revealed her birth was paid for by Martin Luther King Jr

The actress, whose films include 'Ticket to Paradise', told the story to TV presenter Gayle King

Julia Roberts, in a black dress and satin wrap, attends the 24th annual People's Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California, on January 11, 1998. Getty Images

Rupert Everett and Julia Roberts, in a chocolate suit, attend the 4th annual Blockbuster Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 1998. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in a pink strapless dress, and Benjamin Bratt attend the premiere of 'Stepmom' in New York, US, on December 15, 1998. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in a classic LBD, and Benjamin Bratt attend the 'Notting Hill' premiere at the Zeigfeld Theatre in New York, US, on May 13, 1999. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in a pink and black dress with matching wrap, and Benjamin Bratt arrive at the premiere of 'Runaway Bride' in Westwood, California, on July 25, 1999. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in sequinned trousers, and Benjamin Bratt attend the premiere of 'Erin Brockovich' in Westwood, California, on March 14, 2000. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in a printed midi dress, and Benjamin Bratt attend the premiere of 'Red Planet' at the Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on November 6, 2000. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in a pink leather shirt, arrives at the Los Angeles Film Critics 26th annual Achievement Awards on January 17, 2001 in West Hollywood, California. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in croc-embossed leather trousers, attends the premiere of 'The Mexican' on February 23, 2001 in Westwood, California. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in brown suede, and Benjamin Bratt, attend the 7th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on March 11, 2001 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in Valentino, attends the 73rd annual Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on March 25, 2001. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in a split-front LBD, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 24, 2002. Reuters

Julia Roberts, in a black textured coat, arrives at the premiere of 'Mona Lisa Smile' at the Ziegfeld Theatre on December 10, 2003 in New York, US. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in Armani, arrives at the 76th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 29, 2004. Reuters

Julia Roberts, in a baby-blue cardigan, attends a benefit event for the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps at Avery Fisher Hall Lincoln Centre on April 21, 2005 in New York, US. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in a buttoned coat and shades, arrives at the premiere of 'Charlotte's Web' at the ArcLight Theatre on December 10, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in Diane von Furstenberg, arrives at the 22nd annual American Cinematheque Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 12, 2007 in Beverly Hills, California. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in Armani, and Giorgio Armani attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in New York, US, on May 5, 2008. Reuters

Julia Roberts, in a timeless suit, and Clive Owen arrive for the premiere of 'Duplicity' at the Empire Cinema on March 10, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images

Clive Owen and Julia Roberts, in Lanvin, attend the 'Duplicity' premiere on March 12, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in Dries Van Noten, attends an 'Eat, Pray, Love' press conference at The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo on August 18, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images

Javier Bardem and Julia Roberts, in Dolce & Gabbana, attend the 'Eat, Pray, Love' premiere at The Space Moderno Cinema on September 16, 2010 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in Lanvin, attends the premiere for 'Eat, Pray, Love' on September 19, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in Stella McCartney, arrives for the premiere of 'Eat, Pray, Love' at the Empire Leicester Square in London, England, on September 22, 2010. EPA

Julia Roberts, in a classic trench coat, and her sister, Lisa Gillan, attend the premiere of 'Jesus Henry Christ' during the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, US, on April 23, 2011. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Gucci, arrives for the premiere of 'Larry Crown' at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on June 27, 2011. EPA

Julia Roberts, in a three-piece suit and contrasting shirt, and Tarsem Singh arrive for the premiere of 'Mirror Mirror' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 17, 2012. AFP

Julia Roberts, in Dolce & Gabbana, arrives for the screening of 'August: Osage County' during the 38th annual Toronto Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, on September 9, 2013. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Gucci, arrives for the 25th Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in Palm Springs, California, on January 4, 2014. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Dolce & Gabbana, arrives for the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on January 12, 2014. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Juan Carlos Obando, arrives for the 19th annual Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, on January 16, 2014. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Valentino, arrives for the 20th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 18, 2014. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Givenchy, arrives for the 86th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 2, 2014. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Elie Saab, arrives for the 66th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on August 25, 2014. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Givenchy, arrives at the 21st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 25, 2015. EPA

George Clooney and Julia Roberts, in Givenchy, attend the 'Money Monster' photocall during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2016 in Cannes, France. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in Armani, attends the 'Money Monster' premiere during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2016 in Cannes, France. Getty Images

Julia Roberts, in Givenchy, attends the amfAR Gala at Ron Burkle's Green Acres Estate on October 13, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

Julia Roberts, in Givenchy, arrives for the screening of 'Homecoming' during the 43rd annual Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, on September 7, 2018. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Stella McCartney, arrives for the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 6, 2019. EPA

Rita Wilson and Julia Roberts, in Salvatore Ferragamo, pose on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, on March 29, 2019. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Armani, and Giorgio Armani arrive for The Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, on December 2, 2019. EPA

Julia Roberts, in Dior, and Daniel Moder attend the Core Gala at Wiltern Theatre on January 15, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images

Julia Roberts has told the story of her birth, revealing her little-known connection to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Roberts was interviewed by Gayle King for HistoryTalks in September, when the television presenter asked her about her birth and how Martin and his wife, Coretta Scott King, helped her parents out when she was born by paying the hospital bill.

Look back at Julia Roberts's style evolution in the gallery above

The story is now gaining traction online after an extract from the interview was shared on Twitter by Zara Rahim, a former strategic adviser to Barack Obama.

"Today is Julia Roberts birthday! 55 years ago MLK and Coretta Scott King paid for her parents hospital bill after she was born. Can’t stop thinking about this since I read it," Rahim wrote on Friday, which was the actress's birthday.

Roberts joked that Gayle's "research is very good", when she was asked to recount the story.

Roberts said: "The King family paid for my hospital bill ... Martin Luther King and Coretta."

In the story she explained the families' connections, saying that her parents, Betty Lou and Walter Roberts, owned a theatre school in Atlanta, the Actors and Writers' Workshop.

“One day Coretta called my mother and asked if her kids could be part of the school because they were having a hard time finding a place that would accept her kids,” Roberts said. “My mum was like, ‘Sure, come on over,’ and so they all just became friends.”

"They all became friends and they helped us out of a jam," Roberts said of her parents being unable to pay the hospital bill when she was born.

Gayle then noted: "In the '60s, you didn't have little black children interacting with little white kids in acting school.

"And Julia's parents were welcoming, and I think that's extraordinary, and it lays the groundwork for who Julia is."