Renée Zellweger has been in the spotlight for quite some time, making her the topic of many hot conversations. While the star has earned herself a spot as one of Hollywood's best, Oscar-win and all, it seems as if Renée has not always had it so easy when it comes to the industry.
The actress is mostly known for her roles in Bridget Jones's Diary, Jerry Maguire, and Chicago, to name a few, proving Zellweger to be an A-lister in her own right. Despite her success, Renée took a six-year hiatus from her career, mainly to clear her head, it appears as if her comeback wasn't nearly as eventful as many thought it would be.
One of the first films the star appeared in following her break was Same Kind Of Different As Me, which didn't go over all too well. Not only did the film miss its mark, but it jeopardized Renée's acting career. Luckily, the star is not only back on her A-game, but she's also dating HGTV star, Ant Anstead. So, how did it nearly all go wrong for Renée Zellweger? Let's dive in!
Renee Zellweger's On-Screen Hiatus
Renee Zellweger is hands down one of the biggest names in the biz, or so she once was! The actress dominated the 2000s when it came to appearing in movie after movie, however, in 2009 things took a turn for Zellweger. Renee made it clear that she wasn't in a "healthy" environment at the time, which prompted her to take a break from acting.
Well, Renee ended up taking a six-year hiatus from movie-making, and it appears as if it was much-needed. During an interview with New York Magazine, Renee revealed that she took a break from the industry mainly to focus on herself. "I wasn't healthy. I wasn't taking care of myself," Renee told the magazine. "I was the last thing on my list of priorities," she went on, which ultimately sparked her hiatus from Hollywood.
'Same Kind Of Different As Me' Nearly Ruined Renee's Career
After years of focusing on her mental health and separating herself from the headlines, and the public persona that was Renee Zellweger, the actress felt like it was time for a return. Despite appearing in successful films prior to her hiatus, it seems as if a pause from acting certainly hurt Renee's status in the industry. Not only had a lot of time passed, but Renee didn't exactly land stellar roles right off the bat.
In 2017, Renee appeared in Same Kind Of Different As Me, a family drama that nearly ruined her career for good. The star appeared alongside Greg Kinnear, Djimon Hounsou, and Jon Voight, however, despite the roster of A-list actors, it didn't seem to be enough to do well in the box office.
The film went on to gross a mere $6.4 million at the box office, which was a lot lower than expected. Additionally, fans didn't feel a connection to the film claiming it was far too predictable and peremptory. As if that wasn't bad enough, Renee's next film, Here And Now also performed horribly, marking two back-to-back failures. Yikes!
Luckily 'Judy' Revived Her Career
With her break from the limelight and two unsuccessful films, Renee was certain she'd be saying goodbye to her acting career! Despite her career lows following her hiatus, the actress found herself at the top of her game again following the news that she'd be playing Judy Garland in the 2019 film, Judy.
Considering Renee has an Oscar, proving herself to be quite the actress, fans were ecstatic to see her take on such a grand role and deliver a performance that we all knew Renee could deliver. The film went on to gross nearly $50 million, making it Renee's first commercial success since Bridget Jones's Baby.
Renee Is Dating Again
Now, the actress is not only back in it for good, but she's also found herself in a relationship! Earlier this summer, Renee and HGTV star, Ant Anstead began dating following Zellweger's appearance on his automotive show, Celebrity IOU: Joyride. The two have made a few public appearances since their romance first started off, however, it's evident the two will be taking things slow and keeping their relationship somewhat private.
Renee has also kept the public on their toes when it comes to her romances, however, the actress has never been fully open when it comes to her mysterious dating life. Well, with her and Ant being head over heels in love, fans couldn't be happier for Renee, and considering she was feeling low nearly a decade ago, it's more than clear that her personal and professional life is doing just fine now!