REENE ZELLWEGER

Biography

Renee Kathleen Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas, a small town outside Houston. The daughter of European parents (her father is Swiss and her mother Norwegian), Renee Zellweger had an older brother that she greatly admired. As she approached fame, she was encouraged to change her name to one that would be more marketable. She refused to do so, as her and her brother were the first Zellwegers born in the United States.

After graduating from Katy High School in 1987, where she was a cheerleader, gymnast and member of the drama club, Renee Zellweger went off to the University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in English. An excellent student (she made the dean's list several times), Renee Zellweger took a drama class only because she needed a fine arts credit to complete her degree. Prompting her to recall how much she loved acting, Renee Zellweger's participation turned out to be much more than just a requirement.

renee zellweger in jerry maguire
Her uncredited role in 1993's Dazed and Confused was Renee Zellweger's first film role, and was followed up by a role alongside Matthew McConaughey in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (its release was delayed until 1997). It was on the set of "Chainsaw" that Renee Zellweger heard about another project that was in the midst of casting. She auditioned for it and got the lead; the film was Love and a .45, and it earned Renee Zellweger an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance. Another ISA nomination (and subsequent award) followed for Renee Zellweger's work in The Whole Wide World (1996), a film which caught the eye of director Cameron Crowe and prompted him to cast Renee Zellweger in Jerry Maguire.

Renee Zellweger's role opposite Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire was no smalltime gig. She had beat out the likes of Bridget Fonda, Cameron Diaz and Mira Sorvino to land the job, and it instantly earned her recognition and accolades. She was awarded with a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Best Supporting Actress, the NBR Award for Best Breakthrough Female Performer, an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance, and the title of Entertainment Weekly's Best New Movie Actress.

renee zellweger is nurse betty
While she continued to take on some lesser-known roles, Renee Zellweger's career essentially skyrocketed from this point. 2000's Nurse Betty and Me, Myself and Irene were both runaway hits, with the former leading Renee Zellweger to a Golden Globe and the latter to an engagement to comedian Jim Carrey (the couple separated before marriage plans could be finalized).

renee zellweger wins oscar for chicago

The opening years of the new millennium witnessed two Oscar nominations for Renee Zellweger, for her roles in Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago (2002). In 2004, a nomination finally turned into an award, as Renee Zellweger took home the Oscar for her supporting role in 2003's Cold Mountain.

During this time, audiences were also able to see Renee Zellweger along with Michelle Pfeiffer in White Oleander (2002) and next to Ewan McGregor in Down with Love (2003), a throwback to the romance films of the '60s.

renee zellweger in cinderella man
Renee Zellweger's resume was further enhanced by roles in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), Shark Tale (2004; she provided the voice of Angie), and the Russell Crowe boxing film Cinderella Man (2005).

After relationships with musicians Jack White (of White Stripes fame) and Damien Rice, Renee Zellweger finally tied the knot with country crooner Kenny Chesney on May 9, 2005. The marriage resulted in an annulment four months later.

Renee Zellweger kept busy through to 2007 with roles in the Janis Joplin biopic Piece of My Heart (2005), in which she portrays the legendary rocker, and 2007's Bee Movie, in which she lends her voice to Vanessa. She also received her sixth consecutive Golden Globe nomination in 2007, this time for her role in Miss Potter (2006).

renee zellweger in leatherheads
In 2007, Renee Zellweger lent her voice to Bee Movie and, the following year, she was involved in two '08 projects: Appaloosa and Leatherheads.

Her 2009 flicks include Case 39 and Chilled in Miami