Renee Zellweger biography, information, news, pics (pictures), links, and products (actress)

Renée Kathleen Zellweger (born April 25, 1969) is an American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire (1996), and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) (which she reprised in its sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)), and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago (2002). She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Cold Mountain (2003).

She has won an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and a BAFTA Award, was named Hasty Pudding's Woman of the Year in 2009,[1] and established herself as one of the highest-paid Hollywood actresses as of 2007.[2]

Early life

Zellweger was born in Katy, Texas. Her father, Emil Erich Zellweger, is from Au, St. Gallen,[3] Switzerland, and is a mechanical and electrical engineer who worked in the oil refining business.[4] Her mother, Kjellfrid Irene (née Andreassen), is Norwegian of Sami descent and grew up in Kirkenes and Ekkerøy,[5][6] and is a nurse and midwife who moved to the United States to work as a governess for a Norwegian family in Texas.[7][8][9] Zellweger has described herself as being raised in a family of "lazy Catholics and Episcopalians".[9]

While in junior high school Zellweger actively took part in several sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball and football.[9] She attended Katy High School, where she was a cheerleader, a gymnast, a member of speech team,[10] and a drama club member. Zellweger acted in several school plays and was voted the "Dream Date" of her class before graduating from high school in 1987.[citation needed] After high school, she went to the University of Texas at Austin to major in English language.[5] At the beginning, she took a drama class because she needed a fine arts credit to complete her degree, but the experience made her appreciate how much she loved acting.[7] During this time, she supported herself by taking jobs as a waitress in Austin, Texas.[7][11] She said in 2009 that she earned her Screen Actors Guild card doing a Coors Light beer commercial while in college.[12] Also while in college, she did "a bit part ... as a local hire" in the Austin-filmed horror-comedy My Boyfriend's Back, playing "the girl in the beauty shop, maybe two lines. But the beauty shop [scene] got cut."[12]

Zellweger graduated from college with a BA degree in English in 1991. Her first job after graduation was working in a beef commercial, while simultaneously starting to audition for roles around Houston.[7]

Career

Early work

While still in Texas, Zellweger appeared in several films. One was A Taste for Killing (1992),[5] followed by a role in the ABC miniseries Murder in the Heartland (1993).[5] The following year, she appeared in Reality Bites (1994), the directorial debut of Ben Stiller, and in the biographical film 8 Seconds, directed by John G. Avildsen.

Zellweger's first main part in a movie came with the 1994 horror story Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, alongside Matthew McConaughey. She played Jenny, a teenager who leaves a prom early with three friends and ended up getting into a car accident, which leads to their meeting a murderous family, led by the iconic Leatherface.[7] Her next movie was Love and a .45 (1994), in which she played the role of Starlene Cheatham, a woman who plans a robbery with her boyfriend. The performance earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance. She subsequently moved to Los Angeles, winning roles in the films Empire Records (1995) and The Whole Wide World (1996).[7] Zellweger first became widely known to audiences around the world with Jerry Maguire (1996), in which she played the romantic interest of Tom Cruise's character.[7]

Zellweger later won acclaim in One True Thing (1998) opposite William Hurt and Meryl Streep, and in Neil LaBute's Nurse Betty opposite Morgan Freeman.[7] The role garnered the actress her first of three Golden Globe Awards, but she was in the bathroom when future co-star Hugh Grant announced her name.[7] Zellweger later protested: "I had lipstick on my teeth!"[13]

Critical success

In 2001 Zellweger gained the prized lead role as Bridget Jones, playing alongside Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, in the British romantic comedy film Bridget Jones's Diary, based on the 1996 novel Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. The choice came amid much controversy since she was neither British nor overweight.[7] During casting Zellweger was told she was too skinny to play the chubby Bridget, so she quickly embarked on gaining the required weight and learning an English accent. She gained 20 pounds to complete her transformation to Bridget Jones.[14] Her dramatic weight fluctuations became the subject of much media interest. Her performance as Bridget received praise from critics with Stephen Holden of The New York Times commenting, "Ms. Zellweger accomplishes the small miracle of making Bridget both entirely endearing and utterly real."[14] Along with receiving voice coaching to fine-tune her English accent, part of Zellweger's preparations involved spending three weeks working undercover in a "work experience placement" for British publishing firm Picador in Victoria, London.[7][15] As a result of her considerable efforts to effect author Helen Fielding's character, Zellweger caught the attention of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and won her first Best Actress Academy Award nomination.[7]

In 2002 she starred with Michelle Pfeiffer in White Oleander. She played an actress in the film, and a clip from her role in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation was shown as she discussed her career with the main character, Astrid Magnussen. The same year, she appeared as Roxie Hart in the critically acclaimed musical film Chicago, directed by Rob Marshall, co-starring Catherine Zeta Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, and John C. Reilly. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Zellweger received positive reviews. The San Francisco Chronicle's web site SFGate commented, "Zellweger is a joy to watch, with marvelous comic timing and, in her stage numbers, a commanding presence."[16] The Washington Post noted that even though Zellweger couldn't dance well in real life, the audience "wouldn't know it from this movie, in which she dances up a storm."[17] As a result she earned her second Academy Award nomination as Best Actress, as well as the Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award.[7]

2003–present

In 2004 Zellweger received an Academy Award, this time as Best Supporting Actress in Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain opposite Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. Zellweger since has starred in the sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, lent her voice to the DreamWorks animated features Shark Tale and Bee Movie, and starred in the 2005 Ron Howard film Cinderella Man opposite Russell Crowe and Paul Giamatti. On May 24, 2005, Zellweger received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She produced and appeared in Miss Potter, based on the life story of acclaimed author Beatrix Potter, with Emily Watson and Ewan McGregor, released in December 2006.

Zellweger was awarded the Women in Film Crystal award in 2007.[18] In 2008, she starred in the western Appaloosa with Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen and the period comedy Leatherheads with fellow Oscar-winner George Clooney.

In 2008 she produced a film, Living Proof, starring Harry Connick Jr., about the true story of Dr. Denny Slamon. The film, produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, premiered in October 2008 on Lifetime Television.[19]

In 2009 she starred alongside Chris Noth and Kevin Bacon in the feature film My One and Only,[20] as well as in the film New in Town, a comedy about a corporate executive from Miami who is sent to New Ulm, Minnesota, to oversee a small manufacturing company making minimal profits producing and selling pudding. She also had a cameo role in the animated film Monsters vs. Aliens.

Renee has expressed a strong interest in reprising her role as Bridget Jones in the planned third installment of the "Bridget Jones" film series.

Personal life

Starting in 2002 Zellweger dated The White Stripes singer, Jack White, for two years. They broke up after schedule demands kept them apart.[21]

On May 9, 2005, Zellweger married singer, Kenny Chesney, in a ceremony at the island of St. John.[22] On September 15, 2005, they announced their plans for an annulment. Zellweger cited "fraud" as the reason in the related papers.[23] After media scrutiny of her use of the word "fraud", she qualified the use of the term, stating it was "simply legal language and not a reflection of Kenny's character."[23]

In September 2010 it was reported that Zellweger and actor Bradley Cooper had been in a relationship for over a year.[24] On March 18, 2011, People Magazine announced that the two had broken off their relationship.[25]

Activism

Zellweger and Marc Forster took part in the 2005 HIV prevention campaign of the Swiss federal health department.[26]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	Taste for Killing, AA Taste for Killing	Mary Lou	Television film
1993	Murder in the Heartland	Barbara Von Busch	Television film
	My Boyfriend's Back		Uncredited
	Dazed and Confused	Nesi White	Uncredited
1994	Reality Bites	Tami
	8 Seconds	Prescott Buckle Bunny	Cameo
	Shake, Rattle and Rock!	Susan Doyle
	Love and a .45	Starlene Cheatham	Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance
	Rebel Highway	Susan
	Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation	Jenny
1995	Empire Records	Gina
1995	Low Life, TheThe Low Life	Poet
1996	Whole Wide World, TheThe Whole Wide World	Novalyne Price	Mar del Plata Film Festival for Best Actress Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Female
1996	Jerry Maguire	Dorothy Boyd	Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for Favorite Supporting Actress - Comedy/Romance Broadcast Film Critics Association for Breakthrough Artist National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated — National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture
1997	Deceiver	Elizabeth
1998	Price Above Rubies, AA Price Above Rubies	Sonia Horowitz	Nominated — New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Also for "One True Thing"
1998	One True Thing	Ellen Gulden	Nominated — New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Also for "A Price Above Rubies"
1999	Bachelor, TheThe Bachelor	Anne Arden
2000	Nurse Betty	Betty Sizemore	Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated — Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated — London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated — San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
2000	Me, Myself & Irene	Irene P. Waters
2001	Bridget Jones's Diary	Bridget Jones	Nominated — Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress - Comedy/Romance Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated — Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated — Empire Award for Best Actress Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss (shared with Colin Firth) Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Motion Picture Nominated — Teen Choice Award For Film - Choice Chemistry (shared with Hugh Grant)
2002	White Oleander	Claire Richards	Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
2002	Chicago	Roxie Hart	Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role - Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated — Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated — Teen Choice Award For Choice Movie Liar
2003	Down with Love	Barbara Novak
2003	Cold Mountain	Ruby Thewes	Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
2004	Shark Tale	Angie	Nominated — Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture
2004	Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason	Bridget Jones	Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Blush Scene (Bridget lands in a pig pen) Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Rockstar Moment (For singing "Like a Virgin")
2005	Cinderella Man	Mae Braddock	Nominated — Empire Award for Best Actress
2006	Miss Potter	Beatrix Potter	Also executive producer Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Actress
2007	Bee Movie	Vanessa Bloome
2008	Leatherheads	Lexi Littleton
2008	Appaloosa	Allie French
2009	New in Town	Lucy Hill
	Monsters vs. Aliens	Katie
	My One and Only	Anne Deveraux
	Case 39	Emily Jenkins
2010	My Own Love Song	Jane
TBA	Bridget Jones 3^[27]	Bridget Jones

References

3.^ "(german)". Filmreporter.de. 2006-05-09. http://www.filmreporter.de/stars/feature/1302;Renee-Zellweger-hats-geschafft. Retrieved 2010-03-31.

7.^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Inside the Actors Studio". Bravotv.com. Season 9, Episode 912. 9 May 2003.

8.^ Agelorius, Monica. "Bridget Jones's Diary LA junket". scene-magazine.com 2001-03-17.

10.^ "National Forensic League, Speech & Debate Honor Society - alumni". Nflonline.org. http://www.nflonline.org/Alumni.Alumni. Retrieved 2010-03-31.

12.^ a b Lovece, Frank. "Renee Zellweger talks about 'My One and Only'", Newsday, August 26, 2009. WebCitation archive: "I got my SAG card on my Coors Light commercial. Yeah! Coors Light paid for college!"

15.^ "Overweight and over here. Texan Renee Zellweger plays a modern British everywoman". iofilm.co.uk.

16.^ "That's showbiz / 'Chicago' sparkles with sexy women, jazz energy and spectacular numbers", 2002-12-27.

19.^ "Harry Connick Jr. to star in New Orleans-shot movie for Lifetime", The Times Picayune, 2008-05-02.

20.^ Press notes, "Herrick Entertainment Presents 'My One and Only', A Film by Richard Loncraine"

21.^ "Jack White - White Calls Off Relationship with Zellweger". Contact Music.com. 2004-12-19.

22.^ "Top 10 Short-Lived Celebrity Marriages - Renée Zellweger and Kenny Chesney" Time Magazine Special

23.^ a b Thomas, Karen. "Renee Zellweger cites 'fraud' in split to Kenny Chesney". USA Today. 2005-09-15.

24.^ "Bradley Cooper on Renee Zellweger: "I Just Love Her"". September 29, 2010. http://www.usmagazine.com/healthylifestyle/news/bradley-cooper-on-renee-zellweger-i-just-love-her-2010299. Retrieved January 16, 2011.

25.^ "Bradley Cooper & Renée Zellweger Split", Julie Jordan, March 18, 2011, People

26.^ "Swiss Government AIDs campaign" (Flash: click "Campaign", then choose "2005")

27.^ "Zellweger 'agrees to Bridget Jones 3' " March 1, 2011, Zakia Uddin, Bollywood Reporter

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RENEE ZELLWEGER

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