The Chameleon

From Bridget Jones to Roxie Hart and now Judy Garland – the star completely transforms for every role she plays

Renée Zellweger is nothing if not versatile. The 50-year-old actress (yes, really!) has wowed on screen in a huge variety of roles across her three-decade career, including, of course, playing Chicago’s crim Roxie Hart and the loveable Bridget Jones.

But after taking a six-year break from acting, Renée returned to screens – in 2016 with Bridget Jones’ Baby – and hasn’t stopped working since.

In 2019, her starring role in Judy won the actress critical acclaim – and now the role has made Renée the hot favourite to win this year’s Best Actress Academy Award. She’s already bagged a Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice Award and a British Independent Film Award for the part. ‘This was a really big experience,’ Renée says. ‘I feel like I really found my voice in this.’

In the role, the actress portrays troubled movie queen Judy Garland. ‘I’ve always been a fan,’ Renée says of the actress, who famously starred in The Wizard of Oz – and battled depression, alcoholism and substance abuse issues. ‘She’s an icon.’

You play a screen legend in Judy. When did you know you wanted to be an actress?

I was in college and I was on the set of a film that a student was making. There were maybe four or five of us who were on her cast and crew and she needed some actors and I… got the bug. I didn’t understand why this felt very important to me, but I couldn’t wait for the next opportunity to act.

Then, not long afterwards, you landed a part in a horror film…