Renée Zellweger facts for kids

Renée Kathleen Zellweger (pronounced rə-NAY ZEL-weg-ər; 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 (BAFTAs), and four Golden Globe Awards. By 2007, she was one of the highest-paid actresses in the world.

Renée grew up in Texas and studied English literature at the University of Texas at Austin. She first wanted to be a journalist, but a drama class in college made her interested in acting. After some small parts in movies like Dazed and Confused (1993) and Reality Bites (1994), she got her first main role 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 earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago (2002). She won the 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. That same year, she played Judy Garland in the movie Judy, winning another Academy Award for Best Actress. More recently, she played Pam Hupp in the NBC crime series The Thing About Pam (2022).

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 worked as an engineer in the oil business. Her mother, Kjellfrid, was from Norway and worked as a nurse and midwife. She moved to the United States to be a governess for a Norwegian family. Renée has said her family was "lazy Catholics and Episcopalians" when talking about their religious background.

Renée went to Katy High School. She was a cheerleader and played sports like soccer. In 1986, her school paper about the Karankawa people 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 there, she took a drama class that made her interested in acting.

During college, her father lost his job, so Renée worked as a cocktail waitress in Austin, Texas. She said this job taught her a lot about people. She started getting small acting parts and earned her Screen Actors Guild card from a Coors Light commercial. Her first job after graduating was in a beef commercial. At the same time, she was trying out for roles in Houston, Texas.

Becoming an Actress

First Roles (1992–1995)

While still in Texas, Renée appeared in several independent 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 like Joe Leydon from Variety magazine praised Renée's acting.

In her next film, Love and a .45 (1994), Renée played a woman who plans a robbery. Her performance 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 movie Empire Records (1995).

Big Break (1996–2000)

Renée became widely known for her role in Jerry Maguire (1996). She played a single mom and the girlfriend of a sports agent, played by Tom Cruise. The movie made over $273 million around the world. Tom Cruise chose her for the role and said she helped show the human side of the movie. Critics like Roger Ebert praised her chemistry with Cruise. 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 community rules. While the movie didn't do well at the box office, critics like Ebert praised her "strong performance." That same year, she also starred in One True Thing with Meryl Streep. Renée played a woman who cares for her mother, who is dying of cancer. Critics liked her performance, with Variety magazine saying she was "outstanding."

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 loved her performance, with the San Francisco Chronicle calling her "a performer who emanates kindness and a pure heart." She won her first Golden Globe Award for this role.

Worldwide 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 like the character. 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 praised her portrayal, and the movie was a huge success, making $281 million worldwide. She earned nominations for a Golden Globe Award, an Academy Award, and a BAFTA Award.

Renée then played a foster mother in the drama White Oleander (2002). She also starred as Roxie Hart in the 2002 musical film Chicago. The movie won Best Picture at the Oscars. Critics praised Renée's performance, noting her great comic timing and strong stage presence. She earned more nominations for the Academy Award and BAFTA Award, and won 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 role 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 boxer James J. Braddock in the drama Cinderella Man. 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) and was also an executive producer. Critics praised her performance. In 2007, she lent her voice to the animated comedy Bee Movie.

Later Career and Judy (2008–Present)

In 2008, Renée starred with George Clooney in the comedy Leatherheads. She also appeared in the western Appaloosa. Renée produced a TV movie called Living Proof, which aired in 2008.

Her next film was the 2009 comedy New in Town. She also voiced a character in Monsters vs. Aliens and starred in My One and Only. In 2010, the thriller Case 39, which she filmed in 2006, was released. She also starred in the drama My Own Love Song.

After My Own Love Song, Renée took a break from acting for four years. 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 wasn't picked up by a network.

Zellweger at the French premiere of Bridget Jones's Baby in 2016

Renée returned to acting in 2016 with the film The Whole Truth. She then starred in Bridget Jones's Baby (2016), the third movie in the Bridget Jones series. The film was well-received and earned $211.9 million worldwide. Critics praised Renée's "wise, light-hearted performance."

In Same Kind of Different as Me (2017), Renée played the wife of an art dealer. Critics noted her "gentle, thoughtful, yet headstrong performance." She also appeared in the independent drama Here and Now (2018).

Zellweger attending a screening of Judy at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2019, Renée had her first major TV role in the Netflix series What/If. Her performance was praised by critics. Her next big role was playing Judy Garland in the 2019 movie Judy. Renée sang all her own songs in the film. The movie received great reviews, with many critics calling it her best performance ever. She won many awards for playing Judy Garland, 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 series The Thing About Pam. She played Pam Hupp and wore special makeup and prosthetics for the role. Renée will play Bridget Jones again in the movie Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, set for release in 2025.

Personal Life

Renée Zellweger 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, but they separated a few months later.

From 2009 to 2011, she dated actor Bradley Cooper. Since June 2021, she has been dating English TV presenter Ant Anstead.

Activism

Renée Zellweger has supported various causes. In 2005, she took part in an HIV prevention campaign in Switzerland.

She is also a patron for The GREAT Initiative, a foundation that promotes gender equality. In 2011, she visited Liberia with the charity. In April 2011, she worked with Tommy Hilfiger to design a handbag to raise money and awareness for the Breast Health Institute. Renée said she is passionate about breast health education because of friends and family who have battled breast cancer.

Awards and Nominations

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

Discography

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

Images for kids

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  Zellweger at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival

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