Renée Zellweger's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Iconoclasts Renée Zellw…

Main Movie Roles 2009 - My One and Only 2009 - Monsters vs. Aliens 2009 - Case 39 2009 - New In Town 2008 - Leatherheads 2008 - Appaloosa 2007 - Bee Movie 2006 - Miss Potter 2005 - Cinderella Man 2004 - Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 2004 - Shark Tale 2003 - Cold Mountain 2003 - Down with Love 2002 - White Oleander 2002 - Chicago 2001 - Bridget Jones' Diary 2000 - Me, Myself & Irene 2000 - Nurse Betty 1999 - The Bachelor 1998 - A Price Above Rubies 1997 - Deceiver 1996 - The Whole Wide World 1996 - Jerry Maguire 1995 - Empire Records 1994 - Reality Bites 1994 - Love and a .45 1994 - The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1994 - 8 Seconds 1993 - My Boyfriend's Back 1993 - Dazed and Confused

BIOGRAPHY:

Ren�e Kathleen Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas, USA to parents Emil Erich Zellweger, a Swiss-born engineer who married Ren�e's mother Kjellfrid Irene Andreassen, a Norwegian-born former nurse and midwife in 1963. Ren�e also has a brother named Drew Zellweger, a marketing executive born on February 15, 1967. Ren�e got interested in acting in high school while working on the drama club. She also took an acting class at the University of Texas (Austin), where she began looking towards acting as a career. After graduation, she wanted to continue acting, but Hollywood is a tough town to break into, so Ren�e decided to stay in Texas, and auditioned for roles around Houston, where she managed to grab roles in such films as Reality Bites (1994) and Empire Records (1995).

She then took a role in the sequel The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1994), where she met Matthew McConaughey, another Hollywood up-and-comer. He was working on a project at the time that Ren�e was interested in, auditioned for, and won the role in the film Love and a .45 (1994), which earned her enough critical praise that she decided to move to Los Angeles. Another role in The Whole Wide World (1996) followed which led to her big break. Cameron Crowe (I) was busy casting his next film, Jerry Maguire (1996), starring Tom Cruise. Crowe was considering such actresses as Cameron Diaz, Bridget Fonda, Winona Ryder, and Marisa Tomei, when he heard of Zellweger's performance in The Whole Wide World (1996). He auditioned Zellweger and was sure he'd found his Dorothy Boyd.

Ren�e followed her huge success with a few small independent films and after receiving further critical praise, she felt confident enough to reenter the world of big-budget Hollywood films. She starred opposite Meryl Streep in the tear-jerker One True Thing (1998). She also took a role in Me, Myself & Irene (2000), opposite Jim Carrey, and soon after began dating Carrey. The two denied their relationship at first, but finally gave in and admitted it; today they are no longer together. Also in 2000, she starred in the title role in Nurse Betty (2000), where she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical. In 2001, she received even more critical and commercial success in the title role in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001). She received her first Academy Award nomination for her role, which was followed by her second Oscar-nominated role in the musical Chicago (2002). She then again wowed audiences with her fierce yet warm portrayal of Ruby Thewes in the film adaptation of Cold Mountain (2003), which won Zellweger an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, which was her first Academy Award.


TRIVIA:

• She wore a gown designed by her favorite designer, 'Carolina Adriana Herrera' (qv), for her wedding to 'Kenny Chesney' (qv).
• Is accompanied to many award shows and other functions by her long time agent 'John Carrabino' (qv).
• Was the first choice to play the part of Carla Albanese in _Nine (2009)_ (qv), but the role was eventually given to 'Penélope Cruz' (qv).
• Her wedding ceremony lasted 15 minutes.
• Prior to the filming of _Chicago (2002)_ (qv), Renee had only sung previously in public in the last scene of _Empire Records (1995)_ (qv) and in the comical karaoke scene in _Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)_ (qv). However, critics were amazed how good her voice was in the movie.
• Was considered for the role of Jessica Kimble in _Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)_ (qv).
• First on-screen kiss was with 'Ethan Hawke' (qv) in _Reality Bites (1994)_ (qv).
• Swiss father, Norwegian mother.