Julia Stiles Praises Julia Roberts' 'Maternal Instincts' on “Mona Lisa Smile ”Set: 'She Took Care of All the Girls'

Julia Stiles had an incredible role model in Julia Roberts on the set of Mona Lisa Smile.

The Wish You Were Here writer and director opened up about working with some of her past costars on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen Monday, Jan. 13. When asked what she loved most about collaborating with Roberts on the 2003 Mike Newell-directed drama, Stiles, 43, said, "Her maternal instincts."

"She took care of all the girls on that set, in a way she didn't really [have to]," added Stiles of Roberts, 57, whom she starred with alongside Kirsten Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal and more.

"The movie hinged on [Roberts] — she's a huge star; everything was riding on her performance in this movie," she continued of the Oscar winner. "And yet she took the time to be really kind and generous to all the young women that were in it."

Mona Lisa Smile follows Roberts' character Katherine Ann Watson as she accepts an Art History teaching position at Wellesley College in the 1950s and attempts to helps liberate the minds of her young students, played by Stiles, Gyllenhaal, 47, Dunst, 42, and Ginnifer Goodwin.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Related: Julia Stiles Recalls Working with Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You: 'He Was Such a Force'

Stiles also reflected on working with other women she admires during her WWHL interview, including Angela Bassett on the 2008 movie Gospel Hill.

"Oh my God, [she's] so regal and dignified and just strong," she said of Bassett, 66.

Of her Hustlers (2019) costar Jennifer Lopez, Stiles told Andy Cohen that she was "incredibly hardworking" and "focused: on the movie: "She came on set and had transformed into a completely different person."

"I didn't recognize her as Jennifer Lopez the pop star and major actress — I recognized her as the character she was playing," she added.

Stiles makes her feature directorial debut with the upcoming movie Wish You Were Here, based on Renée Carlino's 2017 bestselling novel of the same name. It stars Isabelle Fuhrman, Mena Massoud, Jennifer Grey and Kelsey Grammer, "in a fascinating movie about leaving the everyday world behind to take a chance on true romance," per a synopsis.

"When the perfect night with a perfect stranger ends suddenly the next morning, Charlotte searches for answers and meaning in her disappointing life until she uncovers a secret that changes everything," the synopsis adds.

Last month, Stiles told PEOPLE that she was inspired to make the film after the book affected her in a deeply emotional way.

"When I read Wish You Were Here, it broke my heart — but that good cry where you are laughing through tears, and you're reminded how amazing life can be," she explains.

Wish You Were Here is in theaters Friday, Jan. 17. Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen airs Sunday-Thursday evenings on Bravo.

Read the original article on People