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Renée Zellweger and her beloved character Bridget Jones have long mirrored each other in their journeys through love, heartbreak, and reinvention. As Zellweger reprises her role in the new film Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, the fourth installment of the iconic British rom-com series, her personal life resonates with the themes of the movie. At 55, Zellweger has settled into a quiet, fulfilling life with her partner, British reality star Ant Anstead, embracing a new chapter after years of highs and lows in love and career.
Bridget Jones Returns to the Screen
In Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Bridget is reeling from the loss of her husband, Mark Darcy, and navigating life as a widow and single mother. The film follows her cautious re-entry into the dating world, exploring heavier, relatable themes of love, loss, and healing.“It’s looking at the heavier things that life throws at you—those milestones that we all sort of understand at this stage in life,” Zellweger explained during an interview on the
Today show. Zellweger first stepped into Bridget Jones’s shoes in 2001 with Bridget Jones’s Diary, a role that made her a household name and showcased her ability to portray a relatable, lovable character. Over two decades later, her return to the role feels deeply personal, as she, too, has experienced loss, heartbreak, and starting over.“All of us know about loss and starting over and trying to heal,” Zellweger shared. “We’re never the same person on the other side of loss.”
Renée’s Own Journey Through Love and Loss
Zellweger’s personal life mirrors Bridget’s ups and downs. The Texas native has had a series of high-profile relationships over the years, including romances with Jim Carrey, Bradley Cooper, Jack White, and musician Doyle Bramhall II.
She famously married country singer Kenny Chesney in 2005, but the marriage was annulled just four months later, sparking years of tabloid speculation and rumors.“I often forget the marriage even happened,” Zellweger later admitted, brushing off the short-lived union.In 2010, she took a six-year hiatus from Hollywood, stepping away from the spotlight to focus on herself. During this time, she explored other passions, including writing music, studying international law, rescuing dogs, and spending time with family.“I was sick of the sound of my own voice,” Zellweger told British Vogue. “I got healthy. I built a house, rescued a pair of older dogs, created a partnership that led to a production company, and spent a lot of time with family and godchildren.”
Finding Love Again with Ant Anstead
Zellweger found love again in 2021 when she met Ant Anstead, a British reality star and car enthusiast, while filming an episode of his Discovery+ show Celebrity IOU Joyride.
The couple quickly connected, and Zellweger moved to Laguna Beach, California, to be closer to him and his family.“She drives a minivan, wears an orange baseball cap, and is very low-key,” a friend of Anstead’s said of Zellweger. “They’re very private, and she’s very close with his youngest son, Hudson.”Anstead shares three children from his previous relationships and has praised Zellweger for her role in his life. At the London premiere of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Anstead shared a family photo on Instagram, writing, “The movie was absolutely utterly brilliant, and the lead actress was mesmerizing and smoking HOT.”For Zellweger, the relationship seems to have brought her peace and stability. “Ant’s an easy guy to like. He’s a family-oriented person. He’s not really into the spotlight, and neither is Renée,” a friend of Anstead’s told Page Six.
Zellweger’s Career Evolution
Zellweger’s rise to fame began in the 1990s with her breakout role in Jerry Maguire alongside Tom Cruise. Her talent and charm quickly earned her critical acclaim, leading to an Oscar win in 2004 for Cold Mountain and another in 2020 for her portrayal of Judy Garland in Judy.
Despite her professional success, Zellweger has faced scrutiny over her appearance, with speculation about plastic surgery dominating tabloid headlines for years. She has addressed the rumors candidly, expressing sadness over the societal pressures placed on women as they age.“The implication that I somehow needed to change what was going on because it wasn’t working—that makes me sad,” Zellweger told New York Magazine in 2019. A Beverly Hills surgeon, Dr. Michael Hakimi, weighed in, noting, “This is a 55-year-old woman who looks remarkable. The changes people see are mostly due to weight loss and aging gracefully.”
Decades of Friendship and Growth
Zellweger’s bond with her Bridget Jones co-stars has also stood the test of time. Sally Phillips, who plays Bridget’s best friend Shazza, reminisced about their first day on set in 2000, when Zellweger showed up with a massive Toblerone bar in hand to gain weight for the role.“We’ve both had super privileged lives; nonetheless, we’ve also had to take a few bumps along the way,” Phillips said. “You love each other more when you’ve been through stuff together.”Phillips praised Zellweger’s authenticity and ability to fully embody Bridget, saying, “She is so fully and convincingly Bridget we somehow refuse to believe she’s actually a Texan. It’s comforting to know that somewhere inside the perfect and polished Renée Zellweger is a slightly frumpy British woman with a weakness for Chardonnay.”
Embracing the Joys of Aging
As both Bridget Jones and Renée Zellweger show us, life doesn’t end at 40 or even 50. In fact, it’s often the time to explore new beginnings, find deeper connections, and embrace the joys of aging.Phillips summed it up perfectly: “We talk a lot about the downsides of aging and not enough about the good—the joys and depths of decades-long friendships.” Zellweger’s journey, both on and off-screen, is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of love. Whether as Bridget Jones or as herself, she continues to inspire audiences with her authenticity, humor, and relatability, proving that life’s best moments often come after heartbreak.
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