Renée Zellweger facts for kids

Renée Kathleen Zellweger (born April 25, 1969) is a famous American actress. She has won many important awards, including two Academy Awards (also known as Oscars), two British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. By 2007, she was one of the highest-paid actresses in the world.

Renée grew up in Texas. She studied English literature at the University of Texas at Austin. At first, she wanted to be a journalist. But after acting in some plays in college, she became interested in acting.

She started with small roles in movies like Dazed and Confused (1993) and Reality Bites (1994). Her first main role was in the horror film The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995). She became very well-known for her roles in the romantic comedy Jerry Maguire (1996), the drama One True Thing (1998), and the comedy Nurse Betty (2000). She won a Golden Globe Award for Nurse Betty.

Renée was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001). She was also nominated for playing Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago (2002). She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the war film Cold Mountain (2003). She played Bridget Jones again in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). In 2019, Renée starred in her first big TV role in the Netflix series What/If. She also played Judy Garland in the movie Judy, winning another Academy Award for Best Actress. More recently, she played Pam Hupp in the TV series The Thing About Pam (2022). She also played Bridget Jones again in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (2025).

Early Life and Education

Renée Kathleen Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas. Her father, Emil Erich Zellweger, was from Switzerland. He was an engineer who worked in the oil business. Her mother, Kjellfrid, was from Norway. She was a nurse and midwife. She moved to the United States to work as a governess. Renée has said her family was "lazy Catholics and Episcopalians."

Renée went to Katy High School. She was a cheerleader and played sports like soccer. In 1986, her school paper won an award. After high school, she went to the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated in 1992 with a degree in English Literature. While in college, she took a drama class. This class made her interested in acting.

During her third year, her father lost his job. Renée worked as a cocktail waitress to pay for college. She said she learned a lot from that job. She started getting small acting parts. She earned her Screen Actors Guild card from a commercial. She also had a small part in the movie My Boyfriend's Back. After college, she worked in a beef commercial while trying out for roles in Houston, Texas.

Renée's Acting Journey

Early Roles (1992–1995)

While still in Texas, Renée appeared in several smaller films. These included A Taste for Killing (1992) and the TV show Murder in the Heartland (1993). In 1993, she had a small, uncredited role in Dazed and Confused. In 1994, she was in Reality Bites and 8 Seconds.

Her first main movie role was in the 1995 horror film The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. She played a teenager who meets a scary family. Even though the movie wasn't very popular, critics praised Renée's acting. One critic called her a "formidable scream queen."

In the crime comedy Love and a .45 (1994), Renée played a woman who plans a robbery. Critics liked her performance. This role earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance. After this, she moved to Los Angeles to continue her acting career. She also appeared in the drama Empire Records (1995).

Becoming a Star (1996–2000)

Renée became widely known for her role in Jerry Maguire (1996). She played a single mom who falls in love with a sports agent played by Tom Cruise. The movie made over $273 million worldwide. Tom Cruise chose her for the role and said she helped show the human side of the movie. Critics loved Renée and Tom's chemistry. Renée was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance.

In the drama A Price Above Rubies (1998), Renée played a young woman struggling with her community's rules. The movie didn't do well at the box office, but critics liked Renée's strong acting. That same year, she starred in One True Thing with Meryl Streep. She played a woman who cares for her dying mother. Critics praised Renée for showing a new serious side to her acting.

After a romantic comedy called The Bachelor (1999), Renée starred in the comedy Me, Myself & Irene (2000) with Jim Carrey. This movie was a success, earning $149 million worldwide.

In the comedy Nurse Betty (2000), Renée played a waitress who has a breakdown after seeing her husband murdered. Critics said Renée showed great honesty and heart in her role. She won her first Golden Globe Award for this movie.

Bridget Jones and Global Fame (2001–2007)

In 2001, Renée got the main role of Bridget Jones in the British romantic comedy Bridget Jones's Diary. This movie was based on a popular book. There was some debate about her casting because she wasn't British or plump, and she didn't smoke. Renée gained 20 pounds and learned a British accent for the role. She even worked undercover at a publishing company in London to prepare. Critics loved her portrayal of Bridget, calling it "endearing and utterly real." This role earned her many nominations, including her first Academy Award and BAFTA Award nominations. Bridget Jones's Diary was a huge success, making $281 million worldwide.

Renée then played a foster mother in the drama White Oleander (2002). She also starred as Roxie Hart in the 2002 musical film Chicago. This movie won Best Picture at the Oscars. Critics praised Renée's comic timing and strong stage presence. She earned more nominations for this role, winning her second Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In 2003, Renée starred in the romantic comedy Down with Love and the war drama Cold Mountain. In Cold Mountain, she played a woman who helps a farmer. Her performance earned her many awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA Award.

In 2004, Renée voiced a character in the animated film Shark Tale. She also returned as Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, which made $262 million globally. In 2005, she played the wife of a boxing champion in Cinderella Man. Critics noted her ability to make even dramatic moments feel real. On May 24, 2005, Renée received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Renée played author Beatrix Potter in the movie Miss Potter (2006). She also helped produce the film. Critics said she perfectly captured Potter's spirit. She was nominated for another Golden Globe Award for this role. In 2007, Renée lent her voice to the animated comedy Bee Movie.

Career Changes and Break (2008–2014)

In 2008, Renée starred with George Clooney in the comedy Leatherheads. She played a newspaper reporter. The movie received mixed reviews. She also appeared in the western Appaloosa (2008). Renée produced a TV movie called Living Proof, which was about a true story.

Renée Zellweger at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival

Her next film was the 2009 comedy New in Town. She played a city consultant who moves to a small town. The movie did not do well with critics. In 2009, she also voiced a character in the animated film Monsters vs. Aliens. She starred in the comedy My One and Only.

Renée was in the supernatural thriller Case 39, which she filmed in 2006 but was released in 2010. Critics did not like the movie. After this, Renée took a four-year break from acting. She said she needed time to "grow up a bit" and was "fatigued." In 2013, she helped create a TV drama series called Cinnamon Girl, but it was not picked up by a network.

Return to Acting and Judy (2014–Present)

After her break, Renée returned to acting in 2014. She played a wife accused of murder in the crime drama The Whole Truth. The movie was released in 2016.

Renée made her big comeback in Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). She starred with Colin Firth and Patrick Dempsey. In this movie, Bridget Jones is in her forties and pregnant, trying to figure out who the father is. Critics liked the film, and it made $211.9 million worldwide. One critic called Renée's performance "wise, light-hearted."

In Same Kind of Different as Me (2017), Renée played the wife of an art dealer. Her character's life changes after meeting a homeless man. Critics praised Renée's gentle and thoughtful performance. She also played a friend in the independent drama Here and Now (2018).

Renée Zellweger at the premiere of Judy in 2019

Renée got her first major TV role in the Netflix thriller series What/If (2019). She played Anne Montgomery, a mysterious investor. Critics praised Renée's acting in the show.

Her next big role was playing Judy Garland in the 2019 movie Judy. The film shows the last years of Judy Garland's life. Renée sang all the songs herself in the movie. Judy received great reviews, and many critics called it her best performance ever. One critic said it was hard to tell where Garland stopped and Zellweger started. For her role as Judy Garland, Renée won many awards, including the Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, BAFTA Award, and her second Academy Award for Best Actress. This made her one of only a few actresses to win an Oscar in both leading and supporting categories. The movie's soundtrack also earned her a Grammy Award nomination.

In 2022, Renée starred in the NBC crime drama miniseries The Thing About Pam. She played Pam Hupp. For this role, she wore special makeup and prosthetics. The series and her performance received mixed reviews.

Renée played Bridget Jones again in the movie Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, which was released in 2025.

Personal Life

Renée was engaged to actor Jim Carrey from 1999 to 2000. In 2003, she had a short relationship with musician Jack White. In May 2005, Renée married singer Kenny Chesney. They separated four months later.

From 2009 to 2011, she was in a relationship with actor Bradley Cooper. They met while filming Case 39. She was also in a relationship with musician Doyle Bramhall II. In June 2021, Renée started dating English TV presenter Ant Anstead.

Helping Others

Renée has been involved in several important causes. In 2005, she took part in an HIV prevention campaign in Switzerland.

She is also a supporter of The GREAT Initiative, a foundation for gender equality. In 2011, she visited Liberia with the charity. In April 2011, she worked with Tommy Hilfiger to design a handbag. The money raised from the handbag went to the Breast Health Institute. Renée said she supports breast health education because close friends and family have battled breast cancer.

Awards and Recognitions

Renée Zellweger has won many awards for her acting. These include two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Critics' Choice Movie Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. She is one of only a few actresses to win an Oscar for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music Albums

• Chicago: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture (2002)
• Judy (2019)

See also

In Spanish: Renée Zellweger para niños

• List of actors with Academy Award nominations
• List of actors with two or more Academy Awards in acting categories
• List of actors with two or more Academy Award nominations in acting categories