Renée Kathleen Zellweger (born April 25, 1969) is an (Norwegian & Swiss) American actress and producer. Zellweger first gained widespread attention for her role in the film Jerry Maguire (1996), and subsequently received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her roles as Bridget Jones in the comedy Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) (which she reprised in its sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)), and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago (2002). She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Cold Mountain (2003).
Swiss father, Norwegian mother.
Chosen by ‘People Magazine’ as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [2001]
She was a part of the Katy High School Bengal Brigade and Cheerleaders.
Was in the bathroom when it was announced that she won the Golden Globe for her performance in Nurse Betty (2000).
Named one of E!’s “top 20 entertainers of 2001.”
With no dance or voice training, she learned how to perform for Chicago (2002) by watching co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones. She endured a grueling training regime of vocal coaching and dance training for 10 months to rise to professional standards.
Her dog, Dylan, a collie-golden retriever mix, died in November 2003.
While her mother is originally from Norway, her Swiss father was raised in Australia.
Attended University of Texas at Austin, Graduated 1991, majoring in English.
Worked as a cocktail waitress in a strip club while trying to catch her “big break” in acting.
Had a non-speaking role in Dazed and Confused (1993).
Prior to the filming of Chicago (2002), Renee had only sung previously in public in the last scene of Empire Records (1995) and in the comical karaoke scene in Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001). However, critics were amazed how good her voice was in the movie.
Lived with actor Rory Cochrane for four years.
Gained 20 pounds for her role in Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001).
Her Norwegian mother, Kjellfrid Irene Andreassen, is of Sami origin (a minority originating mainly from the northern parts of the Scandinavian peninsula often referred to as Lappland). Zellweger herself has many typical Sami features, such as strong cheekbones and slanted eyes.
She became the first performer to win 2 individual (excluding best acting ensemble) SAG awards in film catagories.
Is accompanied to many award shows and other functions by her long time agent John Carrabino.
Her father (Emil Erich Zellweger) and her grandparents (Dorothy and Emil Zellweger) lived in Switzerland, a village called Au in the canton of St. Gallen. They left right after World War II and moved first to Australia and then to the U.S. Emil Erich met Renee’s mother on a boat during the crossing to the U.S.
Married country singer Kenny Chesney on the resort island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Her wedding ceremony lasted 15 minutes.
Met her future husband Kenny Chesney at a tsunami relief benefit in January 2005.
Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame [May 24, 2005].
In 2004, she accepted the Screen Actors Guild Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role” on behalf of Johnny Depp, who wasn’t present at the awards ceremony
She wore a gown designed by her favorite designer, Carolina Adriana Herrera, for her wedding to Kenny Chesney.
Friend of Reese Witherspoon.
Dyed her hair brown for her role in Cinderella Man (2005).
Her father’s family comes from Au in canton St. Gallen/Switzerland. This is just a few minutes away from Rorschach where Emil Jannings was born, the very first actor to receive the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Fan of Chelsea FC (England soccer club).
First on-screen kiss was with Ethan Hawke in Reality Bites (1994).
Is one of eight actresses to have won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics’ Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The others in chronological order are Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich (2000), Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line (2005), Helen Mirren for The Queen (2006), Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006), Kate Winslet for The Reader (2008), Mo’Nique for Precious (2009) and Natalie Portman for Black Swan (2010).
Was considered for the role of Jessica Kimble in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993).
She visited Argentina, in 1996, to promote, with Vincent D’Onofrio, the film The Whole Wide World (1996) in Mar del Plata Film Festival, where she won the Best Actress Award for this film.
Honored as Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year for 2009 on February 5, 2009.
Was originally chosen to portray Carla in Nine (2009) but Penélope Cruz, who went on to receive a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.
Was in consideration for the part of Satine in Moulin Rouge! (2001) but Nicole Kidman, who went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.
Born at 2:41 PM (CST).
Was engaged to Jim Carrey (July-December 2000).
Purchased a four bedroom house in the Pacific Palisades community in California at $4 million with boyfriend Bradley Cooper (December 2009).
Inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame on March 10, 2011 in Austin, Tx.
Was in attendance at the wedding of Reese Witherspoon to Jim Toth (26 March 2011).
She had “a couple of lines” as a beauty shop customer in My Boyfriend’s Back (1993) but the scene was cut.
