Why Renée is one of

RENÉE ZELLWEGER

The

RenéeZellwegerisnothing ifnotversatile.The 50-year-oldactress(yes, really!)haswowedon screeninahugevariety ofrolesacrossher three-decadecareer,including,ofcourse, playingChicago’scrimRoxieHartandthe loveableBridgetJones. Butaftertakingasix-yearbreakfrom acting,Renéereturnedtoscreens–in 2016withBridgetJones’Baby–andhasn’t stoppedworkingsince. In2019,herstarringroleinJudywon theactresscriticalacclaim–andnow therolehasmadeRenéethehotfavourite towinthisyear’sBestActressAcademy Award.She’salreadybaggedaGolden Globe, a Critics’Choice Award and a From Bridget Jones to Roxie Hart and now Judy Garland – the star completely transforms for every role she plays BritishIndependentFilmAwardforthe part.‘Thiswasareallybigexperience,’ Renéesays.‘IfeellikeIreallyfoundmy voiceinthis.’ Intherole,theactressportrays troubledmoviequeenJudyGarland. ‘I’vealwaysbeenafan,’Renéesaysofthe actress,whofamouslystarredinThe WizardofOz–andbattleddepression, alcoholismandsubstance abuse issues. ‘She’sanicon.’ You play a screen legend in Judy. When did you know you wanted to be an actress? IwasincollegeandIwason the setof afilmthatastudentwas making.Therewere maybe four or five ofuswhowereonhercastandcrewand sheneededsomeactorsandI… gotthe bug.Ididn’tunderstandwhythisfeltvery importanttome,butIcouldn’t wait for thenextopportunitytoact. Then, not long afterwards, you landed a part in a horror film… Yes,IwasinTheReturnoftheTexas ChainsawMassacre[in1995]with MatthewMcConaughey–andnotlong afterthathemovedtoLosAngeles. Atthetime,Iwantedtostay[athome] inTexas.Iwasgettingsomeworkbut therewasn’talotoffilmthatcameto town,somyopportunitytogrowasan artistwasalittlestifled.Buteventually IrealisedIwouldneedtogowhere there weremoreopportunities. How often do people say to you, ‘You had me at hello’? Notenough!Idon’tgooutmuch so,youknow,itwouldbeweirdif Ihearditalot.I’vehearditmaybe acoupleoftimes,butitstilltouches me.Whatacoolthing when you get alinelikethat! REN ÉE IN LOVE Renée split with country singer Doyle Bramhall II (left) in May 2019 after seven years together. She’s also been linked to Jim Carrey and Bradley Cooper.

How did Jerry Maguire and the three Bridget Jones movies change your life? IguessinwaysIdidn’treallyseeatthe time.AfterIwascastinJerryMaguire [alongsideTomCruise],itwas announcedinVarietymagthevery nextdayandthat’swhenIknewitwas kindofabigdeal.Mybrotherwentout tobuythemagandcamebackwitha wholestack–sosweet.Icouldcryjust thinkingaboutitevennow.Then Bridget.I’vedonethreeBridgetfilms andIthinkshe’sbeensospecialtome because,youknow,what’snotto love about a woman who has so

SPOTLIGHT

PLAYING JUDY WAS A BIG EXPERIENCE FOR ME –SHE’S AN ICON

Red carpet ruler

JERRY MAGUIRE ( 1996 )

A life on screen

BRIDGET JONES’DIARY ( 2001 )

COLD MOUNTAIN ( 2003 ) JUDY ( 2019 )

much joy, clearly, and fearlessly goes forward despite her self-doubt. And she finds self-acceptance at different spurts in her life, like we all do. I think we can all relate to a person who is imperfect but still has triumphs because that’s the truth in life.

How did you prepare for that role? I worked as an intern at Picador Publishing in London – the firm that published Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones books. I wanted to work for a publisher to understand what Bridget did workwise, so they pretended I was the cousin of the editor there so the nepotism made sense! And we pretended I’d been studying in America for 10 years, which explained my weird accent at the time.

Is it true you’d gone to the bathroom when you won a Golden Globe for Nurse Betty in 2001? Yes! I was in the bathroom at the time. This was in the early days and [being at awards shows] was a whole new experience for me. But, I mean, I thought it was a treat to be invited and supercool, but I also felt really awkward, too. I was sitting there in my dress and I was like, ‘I’m just going to go and put on some lipstick,’ so I went to the bathroom. While I’m there I hear my name, but I was also like, ‘I’m sure there are a lot of Renée’s at the Golden Globes.’ Then this young lady nudges me and says, ‘I think they’re calling you.’ I think the moment would’ve come and gone if sweet Hugh Grant hadn’t stretched it out on stage at the time!

You’ve already received some awards for Judy. What else have you gained or learnt from that role? Yes! It’s a part that seems to have really touched people. I learnt a lot about myself through playing Judy. She had courage, tenacity and the ability to just carry on. Doing this role was a really big experience for me.

CHICAGO ( 2002 )

SPOTLIGHT

‘I don’t have the appetite for a decadent lifestyle,’ says Renée

consider myself a performer like she was nor do I consider myself a singer like her. But I was always a fan. Judy was a trailblazer in every respect. She went toe to toe with guys on television, she spoke her mind and she was a true original.

You’re back on screen after a six-year hiatus from acting. Why did you take that time away? There were a lot of reasons I needed to step away. The first was that it was pretty obvious to me I needed to stop. The schedule had caught up with me and I wasn’t taking care of myself. I was really exhausted. There’s never a good time to step away from creative opportunities but I needed to be ignored.

Was it always a conscious decision for you to keep your private life out of the spotlight? It’s not difficult. You don’t talk about it; you don’t post it. I like to keep it zipped. It isn’t easy being an actor who disappears when you have no mystery. I always think a little mystery never hurt a girl!

I ALWAYS THINK A LITTLE MYSTERY NEVER HURT A GIRL!