Talking About Renee...

Background:

"I'm sick of talking about myself. In fact, I'm tired of talking."
Well, Renee, let us do it for you...

It's a fact, just about everyone loves Renee Zellweger, and with good reason.

Renee first caught our attention as Dorothy Boyd in the movie Jerry Maguire (1996), where her lines mingled with the movie's leading man, Tom Cruise. Almost 2 dozen awards later, including an Oscar and 2 Golden Globes, Renee is still holding our attention.

With her first Bridget role, Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Renee pulled in roughly $3,750,000. Now, just 3 years later, the lady will be making a whopping $11,000,000, for the sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004). Not bad for a little ole Texas gal.

"Learning a whole new medium of expression yourself is so fulfilling in ways that I never imagined. I feel more present than I have in my life for so long as a result of this. To use your body in
that way, to express yourself in that way. . . I shouldn't even try to explain it, because I can't."

Big Name, Bright Future

Childhood and Family:

Renee Kathleen Zellweger, a big name for the infant born on April 25, 1969, in the small town of Katy, Texas, just 30 miles from the hustle and bustle of Houston. Her father, Emil Zellweger, a Swiss-born engineer, married Norwegian-born Kjellfrid Zellweger, former nurse and midwife, 3 years before Renee was born.

Renee, along with her older brother Drew (a marketing executive) were the first Zellwegers born in the United States, and this became one of the reasons Renee decided to keep her name.

Renee excelled not only in High School (attended Katy High School in Katy, TX) but also at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, where she graduated a year early with a B.A. in Radio, Film, and Television.

Renee Spirals Up and Up

Career:

Renee's acting career first started in Houston, TX when she auditioned and won roles in films such as Reality Bites (1994) and Empire Records (1995). Her next character came in the form of Jenny, the star (alongside another actor newbie, Matthew McConaughey) in the horrible movie The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1994). Although this role did little to advance her career, her next film, Love and a .45 (1994) did get her noticed and Renee moved to Los Angeles.

A few parts later, Renee landed a major score with her role in the movie Jerry Maguire (1996) with Tom Cruise. Life became sweet, and the movie was a big success. This became the launch pad for Renee's future and she received several prestige awards for her role.

Renee took part in movies such as Deceiver (1997, Chris Penn and Ellen Burstyn), A Price Above Rubies (1998, Julianna Margulies, Christopher Eccleston), One True Thing (1998, Meryl Streep, William Hurt), The Bachelor (1999, Chris O'Donnell, Edward Asner), and Nurse Betty (2000, Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock) where Renee took home a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical. In the film Me, Myself & Irene (2000), Renee met Jim Carrey and the two became a dating couple for a short time.

Renee gained 20 pounds and more success in her next title role in the romantic comedy Bridget Jones's Diary (2001).

Renee's success spirals upwards. She played Claire Richards in the drama White Oleander (2002) and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role as Roxie Hart in the huge smash, Chicago (2002). Renee starred in Down with Love (2003) and then won an elite Oscar for her superb performance as Ruby Thewes in Cold Mountain (2003).

Same Bridget, but a new diary, has Renee back as Bridget Jones in the sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004).

Awards:

• Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, COLD MOUNTAIN (2004)
• BAFTA Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, COLD MOUNTAIN (2004)
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actress, COLD MOUNTAIN (2004)
• Dallas-Forth Worth Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actress, COLD MOUNTAIN (2004)
• Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, COLD MOUNTAIN (2004)
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, COLD MOUNTAIN (2004)
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Best Acting Ensemble, CHICAGO (2003)
• Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, CHICAGO (2003)
• San Diego Film Critics Society Awards: Best Supporting Actress, COLD MOUNTAIN (2003)
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, CHICAGO (2003)
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture, CHICAGO (2003)
• Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actress, COLD MOUNTAIN (2003)
• Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, NURSE BETTY (2001)
• Golden Satellite Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical, NURSE BETTY (2001)
• Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Supporting Actress - Comedy/Romance, JERRY MAGUIRE (1997)
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Breakthrough Artist, JERRY MAGUIRE (1997)
• Lone Star Film & Television Awards: Special Award - Rising Star Actress (1997)
• Mar del Plata Film Festival: Best Actress, THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD (1997)
• National Board of Review: Best Breakthrough Performer, JERRY MAGUIRE (1996)