Renée Zellweger Reflects on Why She Took an Acting Hiatus for Six Years

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Renée Zellweger is opening up about why she took a break from acting.

Yesterday, I sat down with British Vogue alongside my good pal Hugh Grant for an engaging chat. During our discussion, I reminisced about my break from acting between 2010 and 2016.

Upon being inquired about her actions, Zellweger expressed, “I felt compelled to do it. I had grown tired of hearing my own voice. While working, I would often think, ‘Goodness gracious, listen to you. Are you feeling down again, Renee? Is this your angry tone?’ It was a repetition of the same emotional expressions.”

When asked why she took action, Zellweger admitted, “I felt driven to do so. I was fed up with my own voice. During work hours, I would sometimes say to myself, ‘Gosh, listen to you. Are you feeling sad once more, Renee? Is this your angry voice?’ It was a constant replay of the same emotional states.

During her break, Zellweger shared that she remained active. “I composed music and delved into international law studies. I constructed a home, saved a pair of elderly canines, established a business partnership resulting in a production company, supported and fundraised alongside an ill friend, and invested much time with my family, godchildren, and road-tripping across the country with the dogs. I prioritized my health.

Back in 2010, I took a break from my acting journey following the completion of “My Own Love Song.” Fast forward to 2016, I was thrilled to step back into the role of Bridget Jones for “Bridget Jones’s Baby.

Upon her comeback in 2016, Zellweger had earlier shared with British Vogue the reasons behind her temporary absence.

Being a creative soul, turning down an extraordinary opportunity like that dream project was tough for her,” she admitted. “However, I had been overworked and hadn’t been giving myself enough rest periods between assignments, and eventually, exhaustion set in.

As a gamer, I discovered during that timeframe that I could shed my public persona and engage with others as a regular person. It was refreshing to be appreciated for who I am, not just the picture people have of me before we even meet.

She pointed out that it’s difficult to excel as a skilled narrator without having lived diverse life experiences, as such experiences help in connecting with others.

Presently, Zellweger is taking up the Bridget Jones character yet again for the movie titled “Bridget Jones: Mad Over a Man.

As a gamer, I can’t get enough of this character. And just like any great game, her story isn’t over yet. As long as the game designer (Helen Fielding) keeps writing, she’s still very much alive in our game world.

In the novel “Bridget Jones: Mad About a Boy“, Bridget Jones is struggling to cope with the death of Mark Darcy (played by Colin Firth) and juggling her role as a single mother. Over time, she finds herself in two potential romantic situations – one with a teacher at her children’s school (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and another with a younger man (Leo Woodall).

The upcoming movie, titled “Mad About the Boy,” is the fourth installment in the Bridget Jones series and continues after “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001), “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” (2004), and “Bridget Jones’s Baby” (2016). In the United States, it will be streamed exclusively on Peacock starting from February 13.

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2025-01-15 23:25