Thursday, Apr. 01, 2010
Elizabeth Gilbert
Age: 41
Occupation: Writer
Previous TIME 100 Appearances: 1
Her spiritual travel memoir Eat, Pray, Love (2006) sold 6 million copies and gained her worldwide fame. This year Gilbert released a second memoir, about a tradition she'd long sworn off: marriage. Her straightforward charm and simple lifestyle — she opened a warehouselike shop in small-town New Jersey last year — lend her voice an authenticity that speaks to the souls of millions. And as if that weren't enough, she'll be played by Julia Roberts in the movie version of Eat, Pray, Love, set to be released in August.