Renee Zellweger Owns Bridget Jones In More Ways Than One

Renee Zellweger may have a long list of acting credits to her name, but for many, Renee is best known and almost synonymous with her Bridget Jones character. This year, Zellweger returns for her third outing as the character in Bridget Jones’s Baby, but there was a time, when Bridget Jones’s Diary was just premiering in theaters in 2001, that many doubted Zellweger’s ability to portray the the character born of British author Helen Fielding’s novel. Doubt flourished particularly among British fans of the novel, asserting that an American actress could never do the character justice, but, 15 years later, Renee has won over those critics, making Bridget Jones her own and, in some ways, letting Bridget Jones to own her as well.

Renee Zellweger On Her “Very Bridget Jones” Moments

Renee Zellweger revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that some moments in her life bring the Bridget Jones out in her, as she struggles to get mishaps under control. One such incident happened on the way to the 2001 premiere of Bridget Jones’s Diary.

“My button popped off my coat, and we had to stop off at the drugstore and get a safety pin to fix it from the inside,” Zellweger said with a laugh. “Perfect, right? A very Bridget Jones moment.”

While Renee may be embarrassed by the blunder, she should feel no shame for her performance as Bridget Jones, especially when so many British voices have stepped up to laud Zellweger for her unique portrayal of the British pop culture icon. Renee’s own co-star, Colin Firth, has praised her for making the role her own and proving that an American actress could bring the character to life. Colin adds that Zellweger has brought much more dimension and character development to Bridget Jones, truly bringing her to life for millions of fans.

“I remember the attention that Renee got [in 2001], deservedly — people were skeptical in the beginning, but she pulled it off and got an Oscar nomination for what’s now an iconic film character,” added Patrick Dempsey, who is new to the franchise with Bridget Jones’s Baby.

Bridget Jones’s Baby Star Renee Zellweger Shares The Bad Advice She Shouldn’t Have Heeded

For Renee, Bridget Jones’s Baby marks her return to the silver screen, following a six-year hiatus to help cope with the pressures of fame and filmmaking, but Zellweger also tells People that her hectic schedule forced her personal life to suffer. In the interview, Renee says she felt obligated to keep going and to keep pursuing greater success, all out of a desire to not disappoint others. Over time, the Bridget Jones’s Baby actress shares that she felt her own feelings had become irrelevant.

“I didn’t have children or an established relationship that dictated I make different choices,” says Ms. Zellweger. “And because of the choices I was making and the life that I was living, I had no time to develop that in my life.”

Renee says she eventually took on a schedule that was not practical or sustainable, so her departure from Hollywood was something that had to happen sooner or later.

Ms. Zellweger recently addressed rumors that she had undergone plastic surgery, denying the assertions. She’s pleased that people have noticed the changes in her because she’s been living a healthier and happier lifestyle. Renee is sure that her new lifestyle is to credit for the change in her appearance.

In speaking of her past time in the Hollywood spotlight, Renee admits she was perhaps a little naive and too trusting of people who clearly did not have her best interests in mind.

“[I took] bad advice… when someone else’s suggestion about what might be a good idea feels like kindness.”

Today, Renee Zellweger lives a more balanced life, one she spends with guitarist/singer Doyle Bramhall II, who she has been dating since 2012.

[Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images]