Renee Zellweger Biography

No overnight star, she paid her dues in a number of small roles in independent films, made around Texas in the early 90’s, through bigger roles in steadfastly low budget films once she had moved to Hollywood. Her role opposite Tom Cruise, in “Jerry Maguire”, originally intended for Winona Ryder, finally catapulted her into the big league.

Her earning potential skyrocketed overnight, but she avoided high budget offers (she turned down $1 million to appear in Godzilla) in favour of projects that interested her. Her range was impressive, from dismembered hooker corpse to light hearted comedy love interest opposite Chris O’Donnell in “The Bachelor”.

“Nurse Betty” was her first star vehicle, a hard hitting comedy where she plays an abused wife who, after witnessing her husband being mutilated and killed by hit men, suffers post traumatic stress and imagines herself a character in one of her favourite soaps. The film earned her first Golden Globe award.

She gained 20 pounds for her part in the worldwide hit “Bridget Jones’ Diaries” and, despite mutterings from this side of the pond about an American playing the role, she garnered an Academy Award nomination.

The role of Roxie Hart in “Chicago”, opposite Catherine Zeta Jones, saw her working on her singing and dancing 10 months before the production commenced. This paid off handsomely, earning her a second Golden Globe, as well as another Oscar nomination.

Off again in another entirely different direction, “Cold Mountain”, with Jude Law and Nicole Kidman produced her third Golden Globe, and finally an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

In 2004 Renee reprised her role as Bridget Jones in the sequel "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" before starring with Russell Crowe in "Cinderella Man". In 2006 she and Ewan McGregor bought the life of children's author Beatrix Potter to the screen in "Miss Potter".

Zellweger was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005. Having finally secured financial and professional success, Renee continues to avoid the straitjacket of Hollywood celebrity, with a depth and range that keep movie pundits guessing about her next project