Renée Zellweger

Renée Kathleen Zellweger (born April 25, 1969) is an American actress. The recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards, she was one of the world's highest-paid actresses by 2007. Born and raised in Texas, Zellweger studied English literature at the University of Texas at Austin. Initially aspiring for a career in journalism, she was drawn to acting following her brief work on stage while in college. Following minor roles in Dazed and Confused (1993) and Reality Bites (1994), her first starring role came with the slasher film Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994). She rose to prominence with starring roles in the romantic comedy Jerry Maguire (1996), the drama One True Thing (1998), and the black comedy Nurse Betty (2000), winning a Golden Globe Award for the last of these. For portraying Bridget Jones in the romantic comedy Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago (2002), Zellweger gained consecutive nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing a loquacious farmer in the war film Cold Mountain (2003). She reprised her role as Jones in the sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), and, following a career downturn and hiatus, in Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). In 2019, Zellweger starred in her first major television role in the Netflix series What/If, and portrayed Judy Garland ...

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Chicago (2002)

MusicalBrilliantDarkEnjoyable

Murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Marshall
CAST:  Catherine Zeta-Jones  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Queen Latifah  •  Richard Gere

Murderesses Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rob Marshall
CAST:  Catherine Zeta-Jones  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Queen Latifah  •  Richard Gere

8 Seconds (1994)

This film chronicles the life of Lane Frost, 1987 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion, his marriage and his friendships with Tuff Hedeman (three-time World Champion) and Cody Lambert.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John G. Avildsen
CAST:  Luke Perry  •  Stephen Baldwin  •  Cynthia Geary  •  James Rebhorn

This film chronicles the life of Lane Frost, 1987 PRCA Bull Riding World Champion, his marriage and his friendships with Tuff Hedeman (three-time World Champion) and Cody Lambert.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John G. Avildsen
CAST:  Luke Perry  •  Stephen Baldwin  •  Cynthia Geary  •  James Rebhorn

Bee Movie (2007)

Barry B. Benson, a bee who has just graduated from college, is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a special trip outside the hive, Barry's life is saved by Vanessa, a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Hickner  •  Simon J. Smith
CAST:  Jerry Seinfeld  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Matthew Broderick  •  Jim Cummings

Barry B. Benson, a bee who has just graduated from college, is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a special trip outside the hive, Barry's life is saved by Vanessa, a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Hickner  •  Simon J. Smith
CAST:  Jerry Seinfeld  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Matthew Broderick  •  Jim Cummings

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

Bridget Jones is becoming uncomfortable in her relationship with Mark Darcy. Apart from discovering that he's a conservative voter, she has to deal with a new boss, a strange contractor and the worst vacation of her life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Beeban Kidron
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Colin Firth  •  Hugh Grant  •  Jacinda Barrett

Bridget Jones is becoming uncomfortable in her relationship with Mark Darcy. Apart from discovering that he's a conservative voter, she has to deal with a new boss, a strange contractor and the worst vacation of her life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Beeban Kidron
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Colin Firth  •  Hugh Grant  •  Jacinda Barrett

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

FunnyRomanticEnjoyableClassic

A chaotic Bridget Jones meets a snobbish lawyer, and he soon enters her world of imperfections.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sharon Maguire
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Colin Firth  •  Hugh Grant  •  Gemma Jones

A chaotic Bridget Jones meets a snobbish lawyer, and he soon enters her world of imperfections.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sharon Maguire
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Colin Firth  •  Hugh Grant  •  Gemma Jones

Cinderella Man (2005)

InspiringUpliftingSmartFunny

The true story of boxer Jim Braddock who, in the 1920s following his retirement, makes a surprise comeback in order to get him and his family out of a socially poor state.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Russell Crowe  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Paul Giamatti  •  Craig Bierko

The true story of boxer Jim Braddock who, in the 1920s following his retirement, makes a surprise comeback in order to get him and his family out of a socially poor state.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Russell Crowe  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Paul Giamatti  •  Craig Bierko

Cold Mountain (2003)

TragicDramaticEmotionalReal

In this classic story of love and devotion set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, a wounded Confederate soldier named W.P. Inman deserts his unit and travels across the South, aiming to return to his young wife, Ada, who he left behind to tend their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Anthony Minghella
CAST:  Jude Law  •  Nicole Kidman  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Eileen Atkins

In this classic story of love and devotion set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, a wounded Confederate soldier named W.P. Inman deserts his unit and travels across the South, aiming to return to his young wife, Ada, who he left behind to tend their ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Anthony Minghella
CAST:  Jude Law  •  Nicole Kidman  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Eileen Atkins

Dazed and Confused (1993)

FunnyClassicAdventurousLighthearted

The adventures of a group of Texas teens on their last day of school in 1976, centering on student Randall Floyd, who moves easily among stoners, jocks and geeks. Floyd is a star athlete, but he also likes smoking weed, which presents a conundrum when his football ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Linklater
CAST:  Jason London  •  Rory Cochrane  •  Wiley Wiggins  •  Sasha Jenson

The adventures of a group of Texas teens on their last day of school in 1976, centering on student Randall Floyd, who moves easily among stoners, jocks and geeks. Floyd is a star athlete, but he also likes smoking weed, which presents a conundrum when his football ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Richard Linklater
CAST:  Jason London  •  Rory Cochrane  •  Wiley Wiggins  •  Sasha Jenson

Down with Love (2003)

FunnyRomanticCleverComplex

In 1962 New York City, love blossoms between a playboy journalist and a feminist advice author.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peyton Reed
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Ewan McGregor  •  Sarah Paulson  •  David Hyde Pierce

In 1962 New York City, love blossoms between a playboy journalist and a feminist advice author.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peyton Reed
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Ewan McGregor  •  Sarah Paulson  •  David Hyde Pierce

Empire Records (1995)

The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try anything to stop the store being absorbed by a large chain.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Allan Moyle
CAST:  Anthony LaPaglia  •  Debi Mazar  •  Maxwell Caulfield  •  Liv Tyler

The employees of an independent music store learn about each other as they try anything to stop the store being absorbed by a large chain.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Allan Moyle
CAST:  Anthony LaPaglia  •  Debi Mazar  •  Maxwell Caulfield  •  Liv Tyler

Jerry Maguire (1996)

BrilliantCharmingSmartFunny

Jerry Maguire used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients, plus a nice commission for himself. Then, one day, he suddenly has second thoughts about what he's really doing. When ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cameron Crowe
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Kelly Preston

Jerry Maguire used to be a typical sports agent: willing to do just about anything he could to get the biggest possible contracts for his clients, plus a nice commission for himself. Then, one day, he suddenly has second thoughts about what he's really doing. When ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cameron Crowe
CAST:  Tom Cruise  •  Cuba Gooding Jr.  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Kelly Preston

Love and a .45 (1994)

Small-time criminal Watty Watts attempts to rob a convenience store with his drug-addict buddy, Billy Mack Black. The robbery, however, leads to murder, and soon Watty leaves Billy behind and goes on the run with his beloved girlfriend, Starlene. Heading toward ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  C.M. Talkington
CAST:  Gil Bellows  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Rory Cochrane  •  Jeffrey Combs

Small-time criminal Watty Watts attempts to rob a convenience store with his drug-addict buddy, Billy Mack Black. The robbery, however, leads to murder, and soon Watty leaves Billy behind and goes on the run with his beloved girlfriend, Starlene. Heading toward ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  C.M. Talkington
CAST:  Gil Bellows  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Rory Cochrane  •  Jeffrey Combs

Me, Myself & Irene (2000)

Rhode Island State Trooper Charlie Baileygates has a multiple personality disorder. One personality is crazy and aggressive, while the other is more friendly and laid back. Both of these personalities fall in love with the same woman named Irene after Charlie loses ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bobby Farrelly  •  Peter Farrelly
CAST:  Jim Carrey  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Anthony Anderson  •  Robert Forster

Rhode Island State Trooper Charlie Baileygates has a multiple personality disorder. One personality is crazy and aggressive, while the other is more friendly and laid back. Both of these personalities fall in love with the same woman named Irene after Charlie loses ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bobby Farrelly  •  Peter Farrelly
CAST:  Jim Carrey  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Anthony Anderson  •  Robert Forster

Nurse Betty (2000)

What happens when a person decides that life is merely a state of mind? If you're Betty, a small-town waitress and soap opera fan from Fair Oaks, Kansas, you refuse to believe that you can't be with the love of your life just because he doesn't really exist. After ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil LaBute
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Chris Rock  •  Greg Kinnear

What happens when a person decides that life is merely a state of mind? If you're Betty, a small-town waitress and soap opera fan from Fair Oaks, Kansas, you refuse to believe that you can't be with the love of your life just because he doesn't really exist. After ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Neil LaBute
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Morgan Freeman  •  Chris Rock  •  Greg Kinnear

Reality Bites (1994)

Sleep-throughRomanticSlow movingFunny

A small circle of friends suffering from post-collegiate blues must confront the hard truth about life, love and the pursuit of gainful employment. As they struggle to map out survival guides for the future, the Gen-X quartet soon begins to realize that reality ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Stiller
CAST:  Winona Ryder  •  Ethan Hawke  •  Janeane Garofalo  •  Steve Zahn

A small circle of friends suffering from post-collegiate blues must confront the hard truth about life, love and the pursuit of gainful employment. As they struggle to map out survival guides for the future, the Gen-X quartet soon begins to realize that reality ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ben Stiller
CAST:  Winona Ryder  •  Ethan Hawke  •  Janeane Garofalo  •  Steve Zahn

Shark Tale (2004)

Oscar is a small fish whose big aspirations often get him into trouble. Meanwhile, Lenny is a great white shark with a surprising secret that no sea creature would guess: He's a vegetarian. When a lie turns Oscar into an improbable hero and Lenny becomes an outcast ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bibo Bergeron  •  Rob Letterman  •  Vicky Jenson
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Robert De Niro  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Jack Black

Oscar is a small fish whose big aspirations often get him into trouble. Meanwhile, Lenny is a great white shark with a surprising secret that no sea creature would guess: He's a vegetarian. When a lie turns Oscar into an improbable hero and Lenny becomes an outcast ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bibo Bergeron  •  Rob Letterman  •  Vicky Jenson
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Robert De Niro  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Jack Black

The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995)

Everyone's favorite chainsaw-wielding psychopath, Leatherface, is back for more prom-night gore, and this time he's joined by his bloodthirsty family. Four stranded yet carefree teens are taken in by a backwoods family, clueless of their host family's grisly habits ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kim Henkel
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Matthew McConaughey  •  Robert Jacks  •  Tonie Perensky

Everyone's favorite chainsaw-wielding psychopath, Leatherface, is back for more prom-night gore, and this time he's joined by his bloodthirsty family. Four stranded yet carefree teens are taken in by a backwoods family, clueless of their host family's grisly habits ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kim Henkel
CAST:  Renée Zellweger  •  Matthew McConaughey  •  Robert Jacks  •  Tonie Perensky

The Whole Wide World (1996)

The Whole Wide World tells the story of Novalyne Price, an attractive feisty West Texas schoolteacher and her bittersweet, romantic and turbulent relationship with Robert E. Howard, the great pulp fiction writer of the 1930s.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dan Ireland
CAST:  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Ann Wedgeworth  •  Harve Presnell

The Whole Wide World tells the story of Novalyne Price, an attractive feisty West Texas schoolteacher and her bittersweet, romantic and turbulent relationship with Robert E. Howard, the great pulp fiction writer of the 1930s.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Dan Ireland
CAST:  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Renée Zellweger  •  Ann Wedgeworth  •  Harve Presnell

One True Thing (1998)

EmotionalTear-jerker

A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carl Franklin
CAST:  Meryl Streep  •  Renée Zellweger  •  William Hurt  •  Tom Everett Scott

A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Carl Franklin
CAST:  Meryl Streep  •  Renée Zellweger  •  William Hurt  •  Tom Everett Scott

White Oleander (2002)

BeautifulBrilliantDramaticEmotional

A teenager journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother goes to prison for committing a crime of passion.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Kosminsky
CAST:  Alison Lohman  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Cole Hauser  •  Robin Wright

A teenager journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother goes to prison for committing a crime of passion.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Kosminsky
CAST:  Alison Lohman  •  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Cole Hauser  •  Robin Wright
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