Renee Zellweger Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Renee Zellweger has made a name for herself in movies.  

Childhood and Early Life

Renee Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas. Her father was Swiss while her mother was Norwegian-born with many ties to Scandinavia. Growing up, Zellweger was identified more as a tomboy.

Education

While in Katy High School, Renee Zellweger was active in cheerleading and gymnastics. She was also a member of the drama club and speech team. She graduated from University of Texas in 1991 with a degree in English.  

Rise To Stardom

Renee Zellweger worked her way through college as a waitress and taking on small acting jobs in commercials. Her drama class helped her along the way. After graduation, she played small roles in television and film from 1992 to 1994. 

Her first significant role came in 1994 in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation. Her first leading role was in Love and a .45. By then she was on her way to major stardom.

Career

Renee Zellweger's first movie appearance after moving to Los Angeles was in the 1994 film Empire Records. However, her breakthrough movie in which she was recognized worldwide as a star was co-starring Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire. 

The 1996 film did well in international block offices. Her next big productions came in 1998 with One True Thing and 2000 with Nurse Betty. She earned a Golden Globe Award for her role as Betty Sizemore.

Renee Zellweger continued with challenging roles in a variety of genres. One example is her role alongside Jim Carrey in the 2000 comedy Me, Myself, and Irene. She also starred as the iconic overweight, British character Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones' Diary. She returned to this role in two more sequels.

Renee Zellweger success continued both in box offices and award ceremonies. In 2002 she filmed White Oleander and co-starred in the musical film Chicago. In 2003, she portrayed Ruby Thewes in Cold Mountain. 

Her singing and acting made way to two more Golden Globe Awards and one Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in Cold Mountain.  

Renee Zellweger proved that she could be a voice actress as well. Some of her voice roles are in Shark Tale and Bee Movie. She continued to take on provocative starring roles in films like the 2005 Cinderella Man, Miss Potter, and Piece of My Heart as Janis Joplin. 

The year 2008 was busy with films such as Leatherheads and Appaloosa.  Renee Zellweger was in more movies in 2009 with New in Town, My One and Only, and the psychological thriller Case 39. That same year Zellweger was the voice of Katie in Monsters vs. Aliens.  

Renee Zellweger took some time away from movies from 2011 to 2015 only to return in 2016 with The Whole Truth and Bridget Jones' Baby. As of 2017, her next film Same Kind of Different as Me was in post-production.

Personal Life and Legacy

Renee Zellweger married country music singer Kenny Chesney in 2005. The couple annulled their marriage after four months. She has dated other celebrities including actor Jim Carrey, Bradley Cooper, and musician Doyle Bramhall II.

Philanthropic Works / Humanitarian Work

Renee Zellweger supported a number of causes and charities. She has been associated with Stand Up to Cancer, The GREAT Initiative, and the Breast Health Institute

Awards and Achievements

Renee Zellweger has been nominated for many awards in the United States and around the world. Some of the more notable awards she won include:

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards for Best Actress and Favorite Supporting Actress, 1996

Broadcast Film Critics Association for Breakthrough Artist, 1996

New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress, 1998

Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, 2000, 2002

Screen Actors Guild Award for Female Actor in a Leading Role, 2002

Screen Actors Guild Award for Female Actor in a Supporting Role, 2003

Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, 2003

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, 2003

Star on the Walk of Fame, 2005

Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year, 2009

Summary of Major Works

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994), Love and a .45 (1994), Empire Records (1994), Jerry Maguire (1996), Nurse Betty (2000), Me, Myself, and Irene (2000), Bridget Jones' Diary (2001), White Oleander (2002), Chicago (2002), Cold Mountain (2003), Cinderella Man (2005), Piece of My Heart (2005), Case 39 (2009)