15 Fun Facts About The Lovely Renée Zellweger

In my humble opinion, Renée Zellweger joins the ranks of Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, and Julia Roberts as one of Hollywood’s most established actors. Renée stepped onto the acting scene in the early ’90s and quickly worked her way up the Hollywood ladder. Bridget Jones’s Diary is still one of my absolute favorite movies, and I couldn’t imagine another actress as the lovable, clumsy, and super relatable Bridget. But there was a while there where Renée seemingly vanished into thin air… To find out where she went and other fascinating facts about Renée Zellweger, keep on reading! 

1. Renée was born on April 25, 1969 in Katy, Texas. 

Her mother is a nurse and midwife and her father is an engineer. 

2. Renée’s role as Dorothy Boyd in Jerry Maguire was initially offered to Janeane Garofalo if she lost weight. 

By the time she shed the pounds, Renée had already been cast. 

3. Did you know that Renée’s first starring role was in 1994’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation? 

She played a teenage girl named Jenny. 

4. Renée gained 20 pounds for her leading role in 2001’s Bridget Jones’s Diary.

When asked about her post-weight-gain body, she said, “I didn’t feel uncomfortable, and I didn’t feel as if it changed my life. I got such positive responses from the fellows in my life when I looked like Bridget Jones.”