Renée Zellweger is reflecting on why she stepped away from the spotlight at the height of her career—and why she’s back, ready to embrace her iconic role as Bridget Jones once again.
In a candid interview with British Vogue, the 55-year-old actress explained why she took a six-year hiatus from Hollywood starting in 2010.
“Because I needed to,” Renée shared with her former co-star Hugh Grant. “I was sick of the sound of my own voice. When I was working, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renée? Oh, is this your mad voice?’ It was a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences.”
During her time away, Renée focused on rediscovering herself and enjoying life outside of the entertainment industry.
“I wrote music and studied international law,” she revealed. “I built a house, rescued a pair of older doggies, created a partnership that led to a production company, advocated for and fundraised with a sick friend, and spent a lot of time with family and godchildren, driving across the country with the dogs. I got healthy.”
Renée made her Hollywood return in 2016 with The Whole Truth, reigniting her career with roles on both the big and small screens. She reprised her role in Bridget Jones’s Baby, won her second Oscar for portraying Judy Garland in Judy, and starred in the 2022 true-crime miniseries The Thing About Pam.
Now, Renée is stepping back into one of her most beloved roles in the upcoming fourth installment of the Bridget Jones series, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
“I love her,” Renée said of the character. “And her story is not finished. As long as Helen [Fielding, the author] puts pen to paper, she’s alive. How much are we allowed to say about it?”
Returning to the role nearly 30 years after the first film, Renée reflected on why Bridget Jones resonates so deeply with fans.
“What I think is, don’t you meet a lot of people who say, ‘I am Bridget Jones!’” Renée noted. “I think maybe folks recognize themselves in her and relate to her struggles and feelings of self-doubt. Bridget is authentically herself and doesn’t always get it right, but whatever her imperfections, she remains joyful and optimistic, carries on, and triumphs in her own way.”
With her personal and professional life thriving—Renée is currently dating TV presenter Ant Anstead—the actress is embracing her journey, from stepping back to taking center stage once more. Fans of Bridget Jones will undoubtedly be cheering her on every step of the way.
Source: E! News