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Renée Zellweger

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Renée Zellweger
Zellweger at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2010
Born
Renée Kathleen Zellweger

(1969-04-25) April 25, 1969 (age 55)
Katy, Texas, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Texas at Austin (B.A.)
Occupation(s)Actress, producer, voice artist
Years active1992–present
Spouse(s)Kenny Chesney
(2005; annulled)
AwardsSee list of awards and nominations

Renée Kathleen Zellweger (/rəˈneɪ ˈzɛl.wɛ.ɡər/; born April 25, 1969) is an American actress, producer and voice artist. She 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), and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago (2002). Zellweger 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

Renée Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas.[3] Her father, Emil Erich Zellweger, is from Au, a small town in the canton of St. Gallen,[4] Switzerland, and is a mechanical and electrical engineer who worked in the oil refining business.[5] Her mother, Kjellfrid Irene (née Andreassen),[5] a native of Norway.[6] Zellweger is of Norwegian, Kven (Finnish), Swedish, and Sami ancestry.[7] Kjellfrid grew up in Kirkenes and Ekkerøy,[8] and is a nurse and midwife who moved to the United States to work as a governess for a Norwegian family in Texas.[9][10][11] Zellweger has described herself as being raised in a family of "lazy Catholics and Episcopalians".[11] While in junior high school, Zellweger participated in several sports, including soccer, basketball, baseball, and football.[11] She attended Katy High School, where she was a cheerleader, gymnast, speech team member,[12] and drama club member. After high school, she went to the University of Texas at Austin to major in English language.[13] 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.[9] During this time, she supported herself by taking jobs as a waitress in Austin, Texas.[9][14] She said that she earned her Screen Actors Guild card doing a Coors Light beer commercial while in college.[15] 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."[15] Zellweger graduated from college in 1991 with a BA degree in English. Her first job after graduation was working in a beef commercial, while simultaneously auditioning for roles around Houston.[9]

Career

Early work: 1992–2000

While still in Texas, Zellweger appeared in several films. One was A Taste for Killing (1992),[13] followed by a role in the ABC miniseries Murder in the Heartland (1993).[13] The following year, she appeared in Reality Bites (1994),[16] the directorial debut of Ben Stiller,[17] and in the biographical film 8 Seconds, directed by John G. Avildsen.[18]

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 who get into a car accident, which leads to their meeting a murderous family, led by the iconic Leatherface.[9] 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).[9] Zellweger first became widely known to audiences around the world with Jerry Maguire (1996), in which she played the romantic interest of Jerry, Tom Cruise's character.[9]

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.[9] 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.[9] Zellweger later protested: "I had lipstick on my teeth!"[19]

In 2000, Zellweger starred with Jim Carrey in the comedy Me, Myself and Irene, directed by the Farrelly brothers. The film is about a Rhode Island state trooper with split-personality disorder named Charlie, played by Carrey, who is assigned to escort Irene Waters, played by Zellweger, from Rhode Island to Massena, New York, to face what she believes is a false hit-and-run accusation set up by her mob-connected ex-boyfriend.

Critical success: 2001–2006

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.[9] During casting, Zellweger was told she was too skinny to play the chubby Bridget, so she quickly embarked on gaining the required weight (20 pounds) and learning an English accent.[20] 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."[20] This role won her first Best Actress Academy Award nomination.[9] 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.[9][21] In 2002, she starred with Michelle Pfeiffer in White Oleander. 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 website SFGate commented, "Zellweger is a joy to watch, with marvelous comic timing and, in her stage numbers, a commanding presence."[22] 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."[23] She earned her second Academy Award nomination as Best Actress, as well as the Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award.[9]

Zellweger at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival

In 2004, Zellweger received her first Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress in Anthony Minghella's Cold Mountain opposite Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. Zellweger has since starred in the sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary, 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.[24]

Recent roles: 2008–present

In 2008, Zellweger starred in the western Appaloosa with Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen and the period comedy Leatherheads with George Clooney. The same year, Zellweger 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.[25] The next year, she starred alongside Chris Noth and Kevin Bacon in the feature film My One and Only,[26] as well as in the film New in Town, and a cameo role in the animated film Monsters vs. Aliens. She appeared as a social worker in the psychological horror film Case 39. In 2010, she played a former singer suffering from paralysis in the road movie My Own Love Song. After this performance, she took a 5-year hiatus from screen acting.

In 2013, Zellweger co-created and executive produced Cinnamon Girl, an original drama series set in the Hollywood movie and music scenes of the late '60s/early '70s, but the Lifetime network passed on the pilot.[27][28]

Personal life

Zellweger had a much-publicized, short-lived romance with her Me, Myself and Irene co-star Jim Carrey, to whom she was engaged from 1999 to 2000.[29]

On May 9, 2005, Zellweger married singer Kenny Chesney in a ceremony at the island of St. John.[30] On September 15, 2005, they announced their plans for an annulment. Zellweger cited "fraud" as the reason in the related papers.[31] 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."[31]

Appearance

On October 20, 2014, Zellweger appeared at the 21st-annual Elle Magazine Women in Hollywood Awards looking dramatically different from her earlier appearance, leading many in media to remark that she is hardly recognizable as the same person.[32][33] Zellweger responded, "Perhaps I look different. Who doesn't as they get older?! Ha. But I am different. I'm happy."[34] Some plastic surgeons said they did not believe this "pretty remarkable change"[35] was simply the result of aging and a change in mood, but rather resulted from "minor" or "subtle" cosmetic procedures.[36][37]

Activism

Zellweger took part in the 2005 HIV prevention campaign of the Swiss federal health department.[38]

Zellweger is one of the patrons for gender equality foundation The GREAT Initiative; in 2011 she visited Liberia with the charity.[39][40] In April 2011 Zellweger collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger to design a handbag to raise money and awareness for the Breast Health Institute.[41]

Filmography

Feature films
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Dazed and Confused Girl in blue pickup truck Uncredited
1993 My Boyfriend's Back — Scenes cut
1994 Reality Bites Tami
1994 8 Seconds Prescott Buckle Bunny Cameo
1994 Love and a .45 Starlene Cheatham
1994 Shake, Rattle and Rock! Susan Doyle
1994 Rebel Highway
1994 Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation Jenny
1995 Empire Records Gina
1995 The Low Life Poet
1996 The Whole Wide World Novalyne Price
1996 Jerry Maguire Dorothy Boyd
1997 Deceiver Elizabeth
1998 A Price Above Rubies Sonia Horowitz
1998 One True Thing Ellen Gulden
1999 The Bachelor Anne Arden
2000 Nurse Betty Betty Sizemore
2000 Me, Myself & Irene Irene P. Waters
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Bridget Jones
2002 White Oleander Claire Richards
2002 Chicago Roxie Hart
2003 Down with Love Barbara Novak
2003 Cold Mountain Ruby Thewes
2004 Shark Tale Angie Voice
2004 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Bridget Jones
2005 Cinderella Man Mae Braddock
2006 Miss Potter Beatrix Potter Also executive producer
2007 Bee Movie Vanessa Bloome Voice
2008 Leatherheads Lexi Littleton
2008 Appaloosa Allie French
2009 New in Town Lucy Hill
2009 Monsters vs. Aliens Katie Voice
2009 My One and Only Anne Deveraux
2009 Case 39 Emily Jenkins
2010 My Own Love Song Jane
2015 The Whole Truth Mike's mother Filming
Television shows
Year Title Role Notes
1992 A Taste for Killing Mary Lou Movie
1993 Murder in the Heartland Barbara Von Busch Miniseries
Uncredited
1994 Shake, Rattle and Rock! Susan Movie
1994 Rebel Highway Susan Doyle Episode: Shake, Rattle and Rock!
2001 King of the Hill Tammy Duvall Voice
Episode: Ho, Yeah!

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Renée Zellweger

References

  1. ^ Hasty Pudding Theatricals, Harvard University
  2. ^ "Witherspoon Tops Rich List". San Francisco Chronicle. 2007-11-30.
  3. ^ Renee Zellweger Biography
  4. ^ "(german)". Filmreporter.de. 2006-05-09. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  5. ^ a b "Renee Zellweger Biography (1969-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  6. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/dec/13/features.weekend
  7. ^ Muus, Nathan (2010). "Who Are the Sámi?" (PDF). Vesterheim. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2013. Additional archive.
  8. ^ "Biskopen, stjernen og minoritetene". Aftenposten.no. 2010-09-26.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Agelorius, Monica. "Bridget Jones's Diary LA junket". scene-magazine.com 2001-03-17.
  11. ^ a b c "Renee Zellweger Biography". Tiscali.co.uk. 2008-02-06.
  12. ^ "National Forensic League, Speech & Debate Honor Society – alumni". Nflonline.org. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  13. ^ a b c "Actress of the Week: Renee Zellweger". Askmen.com. 2008-02-06. Cite error: The named reference "askmen" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  14. ^ "Renee Zellweger". Yahoo! Movies. 2008-02-06.
  15. ^ 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!"
  16. ^ "'Reality Bites': Where Are They Now?". nydailynews.com. July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  17. ^ Piazza, Jo (January 23, 2012). "Sundance 2012: Ben Stiller Revisits Reality Bites". huffingtonpost. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  18. ^ "Renee Zellweger". blockbuster.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  19. ^ "Zellweger's flush of success". BBC News. 2008-02-07.
  20. ^ a b "'Bridget Jones's Diary': 120 Pounds and 1,000,000 Cigarettes Later"
  21. ^ "Overweight and over here. Texan Renee Zellweger plays a modern British everywoman". iofilm.co.uk.
  22. ^ "That's showbiz / 'Chicago' sparkles with sexy women, jazz energy and spectacular numbers", 2002-12-27.
  23. ^ "Pure Razzmatazz" (washingtonpost.com).
  24. ^ "Renée, 'Grey's' light up Crystal/Lucy Awards" June 16, 2007, USA Today
  25. ^ "Harry Connick Jr. to star in New Orleans-shot movie for Lifetime", The Times Picayune, 2008-05-02.
  26. ^ Press notes, "Herrick Entertainment Presents 'My One and Only', A Film by Richard Loncraine"
  27. ^ "Cinnamon Girl". IMDb. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  28. ^ "Lifetime Passes On Renee Zellweger's Pilot 'Cinnamon Girl'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  29. ^ "Renee Zellweger was engaged to Jim Carrey". Zimbio. Zimbio.com. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  30. ^ "Top 10 Short-Lived Celebrity Marriages – Renée Zellweger and Kenny Chesney" Time Magazine Special
  31. ^ a b Thomas, Karen. "Renee Zellweger cites 'fraud' in split to Kenny Chesney". USA Today. 2005-09-15.
  32. ^ STAFF (October 21, 2014). "Is that you, Renee Zellweger?". CNN. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  33. ^ Simpson Browne, Kit (21 October 2014). "Renée Zellweger's Transformation Needs to Be Seen to Be Believed". Moviepilot. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  34. ^ Heyman, JD (October 22, 2014). "Renée Zellweger to People: 'I'm Glad Folks Think I Look Different'". People. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  35. ^ Ghose, Tia (October 23, 2014). "The Science Behind Renee Zellweger's New Face". Live Science. io9. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  36. ^ Oldenburg, Ann (October 23, 2014). "Can happiness really alter your looks, a la Zellweger?". USA Today. Gannett. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  37. ^ Oldenburg, Ann (October 21, 2014). "Renee Zellweger's changing face: Actress has 'fillers, botox and eye bag removal' according to leading plastic surgeon". Daily Mirror. Strang. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  38. ^ "Swiss Government AIDs campaign" (Flash: click "Campaign", then choose "2005")
  39. ^ "AFRICA: Renée and I are Shouting Loudly for the Rights of Women in War". Evening Standard. May 18, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  40. ^ "The Great Initiative". May 19, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  41. ^ "Renee Zellweger – Renee Zellweger Designs Bag For Charity". Contactmusic.com. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2013.

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