Renee Zellweger

Profile
Name: Renee Zellweger
Birth Name: Renee Kathleen Zellweger
Height: 5' 5"
Sex: F
Nationality: American
Birth Date: April 25, 1969
Birth Place: Katy, Texas, USA
Profession: actress
Education: Katy High School
University of Texas at Austin (majored in English; graduated in 1991)
Husband/Wife: Kenny Chesney (country singer; born on March 26, 1968; married on May 9, 2005 on the Caribbean Island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands; annulled on December 20, 2005)
Relationship: Jack White (lead singer of The White Stripes; b. July 9, 1975; met while filming Cold Mountain; 2003-2004), Jim Carrey (actor; b. January 17, 1962; met during filming Me, Myself and Irene; December 1999-2000)
Father: Emil Zellweger (engineer; Swiss-born; married in 1963)
Mother: Kjellfrid Zellweger (former nurse; Norwegian-born)
Brother: Drew Zellweger (marketing executive; born on February 15, 1967)
Grand Father: Dorothy
Grand Mother: Emil Zellweger
Claim to fame: as Dorothy Boyd in Cameron Crowe' Jerry Maguire (1996)

Biography
Renee Kathleen Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas, a small town outside Houston. The daughter of European parents (her father was Swiss and her mother Norwegian), Renee had an older brother that she greatly admired. After graduating from Katy High School in 1987, where Renee was a cheerleader, gymnast and participated in the drama club, she went off to the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in English. An excellent student (she made the Dean's List several times), Renee took a drama class only because she needed a fine arts credit to complete her degree. Her participation in drama while in college turned out to be much more than a requirement, as it reminded her of how much she loved acting. Not even having planned on becoming an actress earlier, Renee knew by the time that she graduated from college that she wanted to pursue a career in acting. She immediately began auditioning for commercials and films that were being shot in Texas, and it didn't her take long to get her first film role. Although the roles she landed were bit-parts, the films did well and co-starred respectable actors such as Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke and Matthew McConaughey.

Her uncredited role in 1993's Dazed and Confused as a high school senior was her first film role, and was followed up by a role in The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (released in 1997). It was on the set of Chainsaw that Renee heard about another film that was in the midst of casting actors, which as luck would have it, Renee auditioned for and got the lead. The film was Love and a .45, a film for which Renee received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance. In the meantime, Renee appeared in other films such as The Low Life, 8 Seconds, Reality Bites, and Empire Records, but it was her starring role in The Whole Wide World which not only won her praise at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, but also led to her breakthrough role in Cameron Crowe's hit Jerry Maguire. Cameron Crowe was so impressed with her work in The Whole Wide World that he knew Renee would be the perfect choice to play the girlfriend of sports agent Tom Cruise, after being dumped by Kelly Preston. She even beat out already known actresses Bridget Fonda, Cameron Diaz and Mira Sorvino for the part. Her role in Jerry Maguire earned her many awards and a lot of recognition, including a Screen Actor's Guild Nomination for Best Supporting Actress, as well as being named Entertainment Weekly's Best New Movie Actress.

After Jerry Maguire, Renee starred in the smaller films Deceiver and A Price Above Rubies, in which she played a Hasidic Jew. In 1998, she moved onto a more mainstream film, One True Thing, a tearjerker also starring Oscar winners Meryl Streep and William Hurt. The following year, Renee joined Chris O'Donnell in The Bachelor. Next up for Renee is the summer comedy Me, Myself and Irene, featured in our Top Summer Movie Picks. Renee fell for co-star Jim Carrey while on the set of filming the Farrelly Brothers' film, and the two are still going strong. Renee also landed the title role in the film Bridget Jones' Diary, beating out popular British actresses to play the role of a single British woman in her 30s.

Filmography
2008 Case 39
2008 Leatherheads
2007 Bee Movie
2006 Miss Potter
2005 Iconoclasts: Zellweger on Amanpour
2005 Cinderella Man
2004 Shark Tale
2004 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
2003 Down With Love
2003 Cold Mountain
2002 White Oleander
2002 Chicago
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary
2001 Saturday Night Live: Renee Zellweger
2001 King of the Hill: Ho Yeah!
2000 Me, Myself & Irene
2000 Nurse Betty
1999 The Bachelor
1998 One True Thing
1998 Deceiver
1998 A Price Above Rubies
1996 The Whole Wide World
1996 Jerry Maguire
1995 Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation
1995 Empire Records
1994 Reality Bites
1994 Love and a .45
1994 Shake, Rattle & Rock!
1994 8 Seconds
1992 A Taste for Killing
1991 Married... With Children: Top of the Heap

Executive Producer
2006 Miss Potter

Awards
Academy
2003 Best Supporting Actress Cold Mountain
2002 Best Actress Chicago
2001 Best Actress Bridget Jones's Diary

British Academy Awards
2001 Best Actress Bridget Jones's Diary

Broadcast Film Critics Association
2001 Best Actress Bridget Jones's Diary
1996 Breakout Artist of the Year

Chicago Film Critics Association
2003 Best Supporting Actress Cold Mountain

Golden Globe
2006 Best Actress - Comedy or Musical Miss Potter
2004 Best Actress - Comedy or Musical Bridget JOnes: THe Edge of Reason
2003 Best Supporting Actress Cold Mountain
2002 Best Actress - Musical or Comedy Chicago
2001 Best Actress - Musical or Comedy Bridget Jones's Diary
2000 Best Actress - Comedy or Musical Nurse Betty

Independent Spirit Award
1996 Best Actress Whole Wide World
1994 Best Debut Performance Love & a.45

National Board of Review
1996 Best Breakthrough Performance Jerry Maguire

National Society of Film Critics
1996 Best Supporting Actress (Runner-up) Jerry Maguire

Screen Actors Guild
2003 Best Supporting Actress Cold Mountain
2002 Best Actress Chicago
2001 Best Actress Bridget Jones's Diary
1996 Best Supporting Actress Jerry Maguire

Trivia
* Is named the actor with the sexiest bottom on film for her role in BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY according to a poll carried out by Odeon cinemas. (#10) (August 17, 2005)
* Says she misses her fuller figure because she got more male attention when she was heavier. (August 15, 2005)
* Denies rumors her marriage to Kenny Chesney is on the rocks. (August 3, 2005)
* When she first met an uncle of her husband Kenny Chesney, she was asked if she had a job. (May 30, 2005)
* Transported all of her belongings from Los Angeles to New York three years after making the move. (May 28, 2005)
* Got a Walk of Fame star – the 2,286th – on May 24, 2005.
* It was said that Kenny Chesney won Zellweger's heart by wooing her with a series of intense emails and phone calls. (May 16, 2005)
* Her wedding to Kenny Chesney was planned over such a short span of time, she didn't even get an engagement ring. (May 13, 2005)
* Her husband Kenny Chesney once rated her as the third sexiest woman he'd laid eyes on, three years before meeting her, when he had an interview with publication The Tennessean. (May 13, 2005)
* Zellweger and Kenny Chesney shocked family and friends because they told them about their wedding one day before the big day. (May 12, 2005)
* Married country music star Kenny Chesney on May 9, 2005 in a small ceremony on the island of Saint John in the U-S Virgin Islands.
* Inspired country music star Kenny Chesney to write his 1999 hit You Had Me From Hello after seeing her in JERRY MAGUIRE.
* Says photographers manipulate pictures to make her look thinner.
* Is escaping the limelight for a year in a desperate bid to avoid 'burning out.' (March 18, 2005)
* Has revealed she has a crush on Paul McCartney. (March 17, 2005)
* Is worried that her fluctuating weight may have detrimental effects upon her fertility in the future. (2004)
* Started out as a bar maid.
* Said she would consider starring in Bridget Jones 3. (November 13, 2004)
* Advised Hugh Grant to get some exercise - because she was shocked by his flabby appearance during their movie BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON. (2004)
* Says she is taking a year-long break from Hollywood, so she can spend more time hanging out with her friends. (2004)
* Is auctioning off the fat clothes she wore after her infamous weight gain for her role in the BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY sequel. (September, 2004)
* Hasn't ruled out the possibility of starring as Bridget Jones again, even though author Helen Fielding has yet to pen a third novel. (February 14, 2004)
* Says she doesn't see what the big deal is about the fact that she put on weight to play BRIDGET JONES. (December 1, 2003)
* Has split from rocker Jack White for good because he hated her BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY routine -- Insiders say Jack was worried Renee's middle-of-road Bridget persona would affect his own work, making him less dynamic. (November 10, 2003)
* Diet giants Weight Watchers are offering Zellweger an $110,000-per-pound sponsorship deal if she manages to lose 30 pounds after the BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY sequel. (October 31, 2003)
* Zellweger says putting on weight for her role in BRIDGET JONES sequel has been a piece of cake -- Zellweger said she's been working with a nutritionist who's been feeding her healthy food with hidden fat. (October 2, 2003)
* Was named a Best Dressed Celebrity by America's People magazine. (September 15, 2003)
* Zellweger has fired her celebrity dog walker, Annie Lever, for reportedly gossiping about her to the tabloids. (August 26, 2003)
* Zellweger is reportedly being paid a $3.2 million bonus to pack on the pounds for her reprised role as Bridget Jones in BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON. (August 14, 2003)
* Zellweger shocked a German couple in a Los Angeles restaurant this week by interrupting their conversation about her in fluent German -- The bilingual actress overheard the pair moaning about her height and her scruffy dress sense, and when the woman asked her partner if Renee was married, the actress angrily retaliated. (July 14, 2003)
* The producers of the BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY sequel have turned to John Travolta to provide the romance after Zellweger told them their first choice of George Clooney as the love interest was unsuitable because of a previous relationship between the pair. (June 26, 2003)
* Was one of the Most Powerful Celebrities, according to 2003 Forbes Top 100 Celebrity List (#61)
* Zellweger had a traumatic time at this year's Oscar ceremony, but not for the reasons some may think -- As she left the ceremony, Renee's dress got ripped so she decided to call it a night; however, on her arrival at home she discovered she had forgotten a vital item - her house keys. (June 4, 2003)
* Zellweger has scored the biggest deal of her career after agreeing to appear in the sequel of BRIDGET JONES' DIARY -- Producers of BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON were so desperate to sign the Hollywood superstar that they upped their bid to $22.5 million. (May 30, 2003)
* Zellweger finds it tough to have casual relationships because she's too much of a romantic -- The actress says, I'm a hopeless romantic. I've tried the other way for about five minutes. It doesn't work for me. I was thinking I'm gonna focus on my work. and you start daydreaming. I just need the guy! (May 20, 2003)
* Zellweger terrified her mother after letting it slip that she's joining the forces on a TV chat show - The actress has been invited by the United Services Overseas organization to visit troops in unclassified former war zones, and she was hoping to keep the news from her worried mom. But, on Thursday night's The Late Show, with David Letterman, she proudly announced her summer plans. (May 19, 2003)
* Zellweger escaped the disappointment of missing out on the Best Actress Academy Award on Sunday by partying all night with TV millionaire new beau, Michael Edwards-Hammond. (March 28, 2003)
* Zellweger backed out of performing at Sunday night's Academy Awards ceremony, because of stage fright -- A source close to the actress says she's uncomfortable singing in front of people, and the news that she would not be singing, was deliberately withheld until after the nominations, because no one wanted problems for her. (March 26, 2003)
* She may be one of Hollywood's hottest female stars, but Zellweger is having problems finding a man brave enough to ask her out -- The gorgeous actress has been searching for a suitable beau since her split from George Clooney, but men are too scared of her celebrity status to even try to get a date. (March 21, 2003)
* Zellweger should be up for a prize, most costume changes, at this year's Oscars after revealing she's worn nearly 40 dresses in the last three weeks - The actress is up against Nicole Kidman for Best Actress, and has attended so many functions before the big night, that she has worn an average of two dresses a day. (March 20, 2003)
* Hoped to land the part of Satine in the 2001 MOULIN ROUGE, but was beaten to it by flame-haired beauty Nicole Kidman. (January 23, 2003)
* She has been on secret dates with Matthew Perry after a chance encounter at a party hosted by actress Amanda Peet - Matt's co-star in THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
* Has traded her $1.8 million Hollywood Hills pied-a-terre for a $6.8 million Bel-Air mansion
* Gained 20 extra pounds for her role in BRIDGET JONES' DIARY (2001)
* Loves saying the word 'awesome' in general and in interviews.
* She had a non-speaking role in DAZED & CONFUSED.
* She has been mistaken a lot for actress Joey Lauren Adams and singer Jewel.
* She says she was almost broke before she landed the role of Dorothy, in JERRY MAGUIRE, because she hadn't done anything in awhile.
* She was rumored a virgin at 27.
* Was very active in high school, participating in drama, cheerleading, and sports.
* Was in the bathroom when it was announced that she won the Golden Globe for her performance in NURSE BETTY (2000).
* In ME, MYSELF & IRENE (2000) Jim Carrey's character asks Zellweger about where she is from and where she went to school. She responds that she was from Texas, which in fact is true (she attended the University of Texas).
* Zellweger is dreading a trip DOWN UNDER for the Australasian premiere of new film CHICAGO because the last time she went there she ballooned in size – she admits she's a huge fan of the Australian lifestyle, and she let it go to her stomach. (December 19, 2002)
* Zellweger was taken ill at the aftershow party on Sunday evening for her new film CHICAGO, and people close to the super slim actress blamed her condition on the fact she hadn't eaten all day -- although she appeared to be in high spirits earlier on, cuddling up and joking with co-star Richard Gere, the actress was looking deeply distressed in the women's toilets at the Cafe Royal at around 11pm. (December 12, 2002)
* Said before making any red carpet appearances, she enjoys a unique triple oxygen facial at a London spa to help polish her look. (December 29, 2006)
* Loves British food.
* Is rumored to be dating Bruce Willis after they were seen looking cozy at new Los Angeles restaurant Cut. (November 23, 2006)
* Admitted that her brief marriage to Kenny Chesney was “a big mistake,” saying she became caught up in the idea of marriage when she was looking to take a break from Hollywood. (November 16, 2006)
* Zellweger and George Clooney have reportedly rekindled their once blossoming romance after they were spotted enjoying a romantic meal at a swanky hotel in Los Angeles. (September 2006)
* Has signed to star in the horror thriller CASE 39. (April 18, 2006)
* Nearly knocked down by a car after she stepped out onto the road in West London while looking the wrong way. The incident took place close to the set of her latest film, MISS POTTER. (March 15, 2006)
* Was no. 10 on Blackwell's list of worst-dressed women of 2005.
* Zellweger and Kenny Chesney's annulment was finalized by Los Angeles Superior Court on December 20, 2005.
* Was so angry with New York Post's claims she is dating another man, just weeks after her split from husband Kenny Chesney, she stormed into its office to berate the guilty reporter. (October 8, 2005)
* Wants her marriage to Kenny Chesney annulled on the grounds of “fraud.” (September 17, 2005)
* Split from her country singer husband Kenny Chesney after just four months. (September 16, 2005)
* Has stamped out reports she has agreed to play troubled rocker Janis Joplin, as she is less than convinced she is the right actress for the role. (September 13, 2005)
* A fan of Chelsea soccer club since filming BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON in London. She frequently disguised herself so she could enjoy matches in peace.
* Got so involved in her New Jersey character for CINDERELLA MAN, she had to re-learn her English accent when BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON required extra voice-over work. (September 7, 2005)