History of Renée Zellweger in Timeline
Renée Zellweger is a highly acclaimed American actress recognized with numerous awards, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. By 2007, she had risen to become one of the world's highest-paid actresses, solidifying her position as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
April 25, 1969: Renée Zellweger Born
On April 25, 1969, Renée Kathleen Zellweger was born. She would later become a highly acclaimed American actress.
1969: Death of Judy Garland
In 1969, Judy Garland passed away. The movie Judy chronicles the last years of her life shortly before her death.
1972: Release of Cabaret
In 1972, the movie "Cabaret" was released. In 2002, The Daily Telegraph called Chicago the "best screen musical [since 1972's Cabaret]".
1986: Essay Contest Win
In 1986, Renée Zellweger's academic paper, "The Karankawas and Their Roots", won third place in the first-ever Houston Post High School Natural Science Essay Contest.
1992: Appearance in A Taste for Killing
In 1992, Renée Zellweger appeared in the independent film "A Taste for Killing".
1992: University Graduation
In 1992, Renée Zellweger graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.
1993: Minor Role in Dazed and Confused
In 1993, Renée Zellweger had a minor role in the film "Dazed and Confused".
1993: Murder in the Heartland and Dazed and Confused
In 1993, Renée Zellweger had a role in the ABC miniseries "Murder in the Heartland" and an uncredited role in "Dazed and Confused".
1994: Reality Bites and 8 Seconds
In 1994, Renée Zellweger appeared in "Reality Bites" and the biographical film "8 Seconds".
1994: Minor Role in Reality Bites
In 1994, Renée Zellweger had a minor role in the film "Reality Bites".
1994: Love and a .45
In 1994, Renée Zellweger starred in the crime comedy "Love and a .45", earning an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance.
1995: Empire Records Appearance
In 1995, Renée Zellweger appeared in the coming-of-age drama "Empire Records".
1995: The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Role
In 1995, Renée Zellweger played the main role in the horror film "The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre".
1995: First Starring Role
In 1995, Renée Zellweger's first starring role was in the slasher film "The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre".
1996: Jerry Maguire Role
In 1996, Renée Zellweger gained wider recognition for her role in "Jerry Maguire", earning a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.
1996: Starring Role in Jerry Maguire
In 1996, Renée Zellweger rose to prominence with a starring role in the romantic comedy "Jerry Maguire".
1996: Original Bridget Jones Novel
In 1996, the novel "Bridget Jones's Diary" by Helen Fielding, which inspired the 2001 film starring Renée Zellweger, was first published.
April 1997: Named "Hollywood's Next Wave of Stars"
In April 1997, Renée Zellweger was named part of "Hollywood's Next Wave of Stars" by Vanity Fair.
September 1997: Vanity Fair Cover Appearance
In September 1997, Renée Zellweger appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine, marking one of her first major magazine cover appearances.
1998: A Price Above Rubies and One True Thing
In 1998, Renée Zellweger starred in "A Price Above Rubies" and "One True Thing", receiving critical acclaim for her performances.
1998: Starring Role in One True Thing
In 1998, Renée Zellweger starred in the drama "One True Thing".
1999: The Bachelor
In 1999, Renée Zellweger played the female lead in the romantic comedy "The Bachelor".
1999: Engagement to Jim Carrey
In 1999, Renée Zellweger was engaged to Jim Carrey.
2000: End of Engagement to Jim Carrey
In 2000, Renée Zellweger and Jim Carrey ended their engagement.
2000: Nurse Betty
In 2000, Renée Zellweger starred in "Nurse Betty", winning her first Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
2000: Starring Role in Nurse Betty
In 2000, Renée Zellweger starred in the black comedy "Nurse Betty", winning a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
2000: Me, Myself & Irene
In 2000, Renée Zellweger starred in the comedy "Me, Myself & Irene" with Jim Carrey.
2001: "Renee" by Ariel Horowitz
In 2001, Israeli singer-songwriter Ariel Horowitz wrote, composed and performed a song called "Renee" after watching Jerry Maguire, inspired by Renée Zellweger's performance.
2001: Bridget Jones's Diary
In 2001, Renée Zellweger starred as Bridget Jones in the romantic comedy "Bridget Jones's Diary", gaining her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
2001: E!'s Top 20 Entertainers
In 2001, Renée Zellweger was placed on E!'s "Top 20 Entertainers" list, recognizing her rising prominence in the entertainment industry.
2002: Roxie Hart in Chicago
In 2002, Renée Zellweger portrayed Roxie Hart in the musical "Chicago", earning her another nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
2002: White Oleander and Chicago
In 2002, Renée Zellweger starred in "White Oleander" and "Chicago", receiving nominations and awards for her performances in both films.
2002: "Renee" Popular in Israel
In 2002, the song "Renee" by Ariel Horowitz, written about Renée Zellweger, became one of the most popular songs in Israel.
2003: Brief Relationship with Jack White
In 2003, Renée Zellweger had a brief relationship with musician Jack White.
2003: Down with Love and Cold Mountain
In 2003, Renée Zellweger starred in "Down with Love" and "Cold Mountain", winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for "Cold Mountain".
2003: People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People
In 2003, Renée Zellweger was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world, highlighting her public image and appeal.
2003: Academy Award for Cold Mountain
In 2003, Renée Zellweger won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the war film "Cold Mountain".
2004: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
In 2004, Renée Zellweger reprised her role as Bridget Jones in the sequel "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason".
2004: Shark Tale and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
In 2004, Renée Zellweger voiced a character in the film "Shark Tale", and reprised her role in "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason", earning another Golden Globe nomination.
May 2005: Marriage to Kenny Chesney
In May 2005, Renée Zellweger married singer Kenny Chesney.
May 24, 2005: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
On May 24, 2005, Renée Zellweger received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the motion picture industry.
2005: HIV Prevention Campaign
In 2005, Renée Zellweger took part in the HIV prevention campaign of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.
2006: Filming Case 39
In 2006, Renée Zellweger filmed 'Case 39', a supernatural thriller where she played a social worker assigned to a mysterious girl. It was the same year she met Bradley Cooper, who she was in a relationship with from 2009 to 2011.
2006: Forbes Top 100 Celebrities List
In 2006, Renée Zellweger ranked number 72 in the "Top 100 Celebrities" list made by Forbes, indicating her significant financial success and influence.
2007: Highest-Paid Actresses
By 2007, Renée Zellweger had become one of the world's highest-paid actresses, marking a significant achievement in her career.
2007: Miss Potter and Bee Movie
In 2007, Renée Zellweger portrayed Beatrix Potter in "Miss Potter", also serving as executive producer. She also lent her voice to "Bee Movie" and was awarded the Women in Film Crystal award.
October 2008: Living Proof Premieres
In October 2008, Renée Zellweger produced the made-for-television feature "Living Proof", which premiered on Lifetime Television.
2009: Relationship with Bradley Cooper
In 2009, Renée Zellweger began a relationship with Bradley Cooper.
2009: New in Town and My One and Only releases
In 2009, Renée Zellweger starred in the comedy 'New in Town' as a consultant adjusting to life in a small Minnesota town, and voiced a character in 'Monsters vs. Aliens'. Also in 2009, she played the mother of George Hamilton in 'My One and Only', which received a limited release.
2010: Case 39 and My Own Love Song Releases
In 2010, 'Case 39', filmed in 2006, was released in theaters and received negative reviews. Also in 2010, 'My Own Love Song', in which she played a paralyzed singer, was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and released on DVD.
April 2011: Collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger
In April 2011, Renée Zellweger collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger to design a handbag to raise money and awareness for the Breast Health Institute.
2011: Murder of Betsy Faria
In 2011, Betsy Faria was murdered. This murder is the subject of the tv show 'The Thing About Pam' starring Renée Zellweger.
2011: End of Relationship with Bradley Cooper
In 2011, Renée Zellweger's relationship with Bradley Cooper ended.
2013: Cinnamon Girl Pilot and August: Osage County
In 2013, Renée Zellweger co-created and executive produced 'Cinnamon Girl', a drama series pilot that was not picked up by Lifetime. Also in 2013, she was considered for a supporting role in the film 'August: Osage County'.
July 2014: Filming The Whole Truth
In July 2014, principal photography commenced in New Orleans for 'The Whole Truth', a courtroom crime drama starring Renée Zellweger as Loretta Lassiter.
October 2014: Cosmetic Surgery Speculation
In October 2014, after attending the Elle Women in Hollywood Awards, Renée Zellweger faced media speculation about potential cosmetic surgery due to her changed appearance. She responded by saying she looked different, but she was happy.
July 2016: Reflection on Hiatus
In July 2016, Renée Zellweger reflected on her four-year hiatus from acting, explaining she was fatigued and needed time to recover between projects.
2016: Release of The Whole Truth
In 2016, 'The Whole Truth', filmed in July 2014, was finally released in the US following extensive post production.
2016: Bridget Jones's Baby Release
In 2016, Renée Zellweger starred in 'Bridget Jones's Baby', the third film in the Bridget Jones franchise, which was met with positive reviews and grossed US$211.9 million worldwide.
2017: Same Kind of Different as Me Release
In 2017, Renée Zellweger starred in 'Same Kind of Different as Me', a film adaptation of the autobiographical book, which received mixed reviews but was a moderate commercial success.
2018: Here and Now Release
In 2018, Renée Zellweger appeared in the independent drama 'Here and Now', playing the friend of a New York City singer with a life-changing medical diagnosis.
September 2019: Judy Premieres at Telluride and Toronto International Film Festivals
In September 2019, the biographical drama 'Judy', starring Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland, premiered to positive reviews at the Telluride Film Festival and also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2019. Her performance was considered the finest of her career and garnered numerous awards.
2019: Television and Judy Garland Biopic
In 2019, Renée Zellweger starred in her first major television role in the Netflix series "What/If", and portrayed Judy Garland in the biopic "Judy", winning the Academy Award for Best Actress.
2019: What/If Release
In 2019, Renée Zellweger took on her first major television role in the Netflix thriller miniseries 'What/If', where she played Anne Montgomery. Her performance was praised despite mixed reviews for the show.
June 2021: Relationship with Ant Anstead
In June 2021, Renée Zellweger began dating English television presenter Ant Anstead, after meeting on the set of Celebrity IOU: Joyride.
2022: The Thing About Pam
In 2022, Renée Zellweger starred as Pam Hupp in the NBC crime miniseries "The Thing About Pam".
2025: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
In 2025, Renée Zellweger played Jones again in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy".
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