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Renee Zellweger Profile |
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Birth Date: April 25, 1969
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Birth Place: Katy, Texas, USA
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Birth Name: Renee Kathleen Zellweger
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Height: 5'4"
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Renee Zellweger
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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 had an older brother that she greatly
admired. As she approached fame, Renee 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 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 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's participation turned out to be much more than just a
requirement.
Her uncredited role in 1993's Dazed and Confused was Renee'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 heard about another project
that was in the midst of casting. Renee auditioned for it
and got the lead; the film was Love and a .45, and it earned
Renee an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut
Performance. Another ISA nomination (and subsequent award)
followed for Renee's work in The Whole Wide World (1996), a
film which caught the eye of director Cameron Crowe and
prompted him to cast Renee in Jerry Maguire.
Renee'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.
While she continued to take on some lesser-known roles,
Renee'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 to a Golden
Globe and the latter to an engagement to comedian Jim Carrey
(the couple separated before marriage plans could be
finalized).
The opening years of the new millennium witnessed two Oscar
nominations for Renee, 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 took home the Oscar for her supporting role in
2003's Cold Mountain.
During this time, audiences were also able to see Renee
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'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).
Renee will be keeping busy through to 2007 with roles in the
Janis Joplin biopic Piece of My Heart (2005), in which Renee
portrays the legendary rocker, and 2007's Bee Movie, in
which she lends her voice to Vanessa.
Renee Zellweger splits her time between her parents' home in
Texas and her own farmhouse in the Hamptons. After
relationships with musicians Jack White (of White Stripes
fame) and Damien Rice, Renee finally tied the knot with
country crooner Kenny Chesney on May 9, 2005. The two met at
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope, which took place in January
of 2005. |
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Other
Information |
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
Lapland). Zellweger herself has many typical sami features,
such as the strong cheekbones and the squinty 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.
Ended her relationship with Jack White (they met during the
filming of Cold Mountain (2003)) over the Christmas holidays
in 2004.
Married country singer Kenny Chesney on the resort island of
St. John on 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 her favorite designer, Carolina Herrera, in her
wedding to Kenny Chesney.
Friend of Reese Witherspoon.
Dyed her hair brown for her role in Cinderella Man (2005) |
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