LimeFile: Renee Zellweger
The Short Story: Renee Zellweger
Birthday: April 25, 1969
Hometown: Katy, Texas
Famous For: Her breakthrough role as Dorothy in Cameron Crowe's Jerry Maguire; her Academy Award-winning role in Cold Mountain; her dating life including a quickie marriage to Kenny Chesney and new beau Case 39 co-star Bradley Cooper
Quick Scoop: Beat out Marisa Tomei and Mira Sorvino for the lead role in Jerry Maguire; had a non-speaking and uncredited role in Dazed and Confused; getting ready to shoot the third Bridget Jones movie in the next couple years
Awards: 1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Supporting Actress - Comedy/Romance, Jerry Maguire. 2004 Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Cold Mountain. 2004 BAFTA Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Cold Mountain. 2001 Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, Nurse Betty. 2003 Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, Chicago. 2004 Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Cold Mountain. 2005 People's Choice Awards: Favorite Leading Lady. 2003 SAG Awards: Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture, Chicago. 2004 SAG Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Cold Mountain.
Biography
Renee Kathleen Zellweger was born in Katy, Texas on April 25, 1969 to Emil Erich Zellweger (originally from Switzerland) and Kjellfried Irene (who is from Norway). Zellweger has one sibling, an older brother named Andrew. Zellweger went to high school and college in Texas, spending a lot of her time playing sports and cheerleading. While attending the University of Texas at Austin, she took some drama classes as a Fine Arts requirement and ended up falling in love with acting. She graduated college in 1991 with a BA in English. After mulling it over, she decided not to go to LA but to instead focus on finding some roles in Texas.
Zellweger did get some roles in Texas. She appeared in the 1992 movie A Taste for Killing, and the 1993 made-for-TV series Murder in the Heartland. She landed a few more roles including an uncredited part in the legendary Dazed and Confused and Ben Stiller's directorial debut Reality Bites. Her first major role was in the 1994 thriller The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Matthew McConaughey. And she won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance for her role in the 1994 film Love and a .45.
After gaining some credibility and accolades, Zellweger decided to make the move to Los Angeles. Soon after arriving, she got parts in Empire Records with Liv Tyler, The Low Life with Kyra Sedgwick and The Whole Wide World with Vincent D'Ononfrio.
It was in 1996 that Zellweger got her big break. She auditioned for the lead role in Cameron Crowe's new film Jerry Maguire opposite Tom Cruise. She landed the part over other established actresses including Mira Sorvino and Marisa Tomei - and held her own against the legendary movie star Cruise.
Soon after, Zellweger starred in One True Thing with Meryl Streep and Nurse Betty co-starring Morgan Freeman. She won her first Golden Globe for her performance in Nurse Betty - and was famously in the ladies room when her name was called at the awards ceremony. She followed that up with the 2000 comedy, Me, Myself, and Irene co-starring Jim Carrey.
Her next big role was that of Bridget Jones in the 2001 film adaption of the bestselling book Bridget Jones's Diary. Costarring Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. While there was a bit of controversy around the casting of a thin American to play a plump British woman, her portrayal was lauded as a success. In fact, the actress gained over 20lbs. for the role. The movie made over $280 million and spurred a sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
Her next project was the 2002 film adaption of the Broadway play, Chicago. She played Roxy and starred alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones (who won an Academy Award for her role), Richard Gere, and Queen Latifah. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and made over $300 million worldwide, a huge amount for a musical film.
Zellweger won her own Academy Award soon after for her portrayal of Ruby in the film adaption of the best-selling book Cold Mountain. While the movie didn't break any records at the box office, it was her award-winning role. She also picked up BAFTA, SAG, and Golden Globes awards for her role.
In 2004, she voiced Angie in the animated film Shark Tale and starred in the highly anticipated Bridget Jones sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. She followed that up with Cinderella Man in 2005 co-starring Russell Crowe and Miss Potter in 2006 co-starring Ewan McGregor. She voiced another animated film in 2007, playing Vanessa Bloome in Bee Movie.
In 2008, she starred in two films: Leatherheads opposite good friend George Clooney and TV actor John Krasinski and Appaloosa with Viggo Mortensen and Ed Harris. In early 2009, she starred in the flick New in Town. My One and Only, a comedy based on the life of George Hamilton will be released in late 2009 in addition to animated film Monsters vs. Aliens and My Own Love Song. Zellweger is currently filming Case 39 with Bradley Cooper.
Zellweger's love life has been covered profusely in the tabloids beginning with her rumored romance with friend George Clooney. She was also rumored to be dating Jim Carrey in 2000 whom she met on the set of Me, Myself, and Irene. After dating the White Stripes lead singer for two years, Zellweger surprised everyone by marrying boyfriend of four months, Kenny Chesney on May 9, 2005. The wedding was annulled just four months later. Recently, the actress has been linked to newsman Dan Abrams and Case 39 co-star Bradley Cooper.
Latest Stories Featuring Renee Zellweger
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