Renee Zellweger joked being an actress means she ‘failed’ at her journalism goal.
The 50-year-old star admitted a film career was never her plan as she actually studied with the aim of becoming a writer, before taking a drama course during her time at the University of Texas at Austin which sparked her interest in the art.
‘This was actually not on the agenda,’ the actress – who has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Judy – told Extra. ‘I went to UT to write; I was going to be a journalist or writer in some capacity, so this is failure at becoming a journalist.’
She could have worked at DailyMail! Renee Zellweger joked being an actress means she ‘failed’ at her journalism goal. The 50-year-old star admitted a film career was never her plan as she actually studied with the aim of becoming a writer, before taking a drama course; seen on Sunday
Renee’s career has gone from strength to strength, and the actress revealed this time of year is a reminder of how far she’s come.
‘I watched something, an acceptance speech by Gary Oldman, I guess a couple years ago. He was accepting his award and he said, the coolest part about it is he can say, “I was there,”‘ she said.
At Katy high school in Texas in the 80s
‘And to be in the company of so many people that have so much history in this industry and to look at all they’ve contributed and the significance of their work and what it means after so many years.
‘It’s very moving, actually. It’s very moving to feel that, “Ooh, some of these folks are my contemporaries.”
‘It’s surprising to look around and realize so much time has passed in the company of so many fantastic people for so many years. It’s just a very special night.’
Meanwhile, this week Renee – who had already won a Golden Globe this month for her role as Judy Garland – paid tribute to the iconic actress as she accepted a Critics’ Choice Award for the same performance.
She said: ‘I feel so lucky to be a part of this celebration of the importance of Judy Garland’s legacy, and her humanity, and everything she taught us.
‘Thank you one more time for the ride of a lifetime.’
Her latest film is a hit: The Texas native is being recognized for her work as Judy Garland in the film Judy
It has been 16 years since the Texas native was included on the Oscar list. The last time was in 2004 when she was nominated – and won – for her 2003 film Cold Mountain.
Her costars in that epic were Nicole Kidman and Jude Law.
The film was a classic story of love set against the backdrop of the American Civil War.
A wounded Confederate soldier named W.P. Inman (Law) deserts his unit and travels across the South, aiming to return to his young wife, Ada Kidman), who he left behind to tend their farm.
Renee plays strange drifter named Ruby who helps him along.
Her other nominations are for her role as murderer turned famed singer and dancer Roxy Hart in the 2002 film Chicago directed by Robert Marshall.
She landed in the Best Actress category and was pitted against Catherine Zeta-Jones who won.
Oscar beauty: It has been 16 years since the Texas native was included on the Oscar list. The last time was in 2004 when she was nominated – and won – for her 2003 film Cold Mountain
Two pros: Here Renee is seen in war story Cold Mountain with Nicole Kidman
Before that Renee was nominated for her turn in the 2001 film Bridget Jones’s Diary.
She perfected an English accent and gain almost 30lbs for that role that was made popular by the best-selling 1996 novel by Helen Fielding.
Renee has been winning award after award for her work in Judy.
On Sunday the blonde received a Critics’ Choice Award. And earlier this month she picked up Golden Globe Award.
This comes after a six year break from Hollywood.
Sizzling in this one: Her other nominations are for her role as murderer turned fame dancer Roxy in the 2003 film Chicago directed by Robert Marshall. She landed in the Best Actress category and was pitted against Catherine Zeta-Jones who won.
Been there, done that: At the 74th annual Oscars in a long black gown
The actress had worked steadily since 1994, appearing in films such as Jerry Maguire, One True Thing and Cinderella Man;sometimes.
But then she stepped back.
She told Vogue U.K. the break was long overdue.
‘I was fatigued and wasn’t taking the time I needed to recover between projects, and it caught up with me,’ Zellweger said. ‘I got sick of the sound of my own voice: it was time to go away and grow up a bit.’
She added, ‘As a creative person, saying no to that wonderful once-in-a-lifetime project is hard.’
A good start: Before that Renee was nominated for her turn in the 2002 film Bridget Jones’s Diary. She perfected an English accent and gain over 30lbs for that role that was made popular by the best-selling 1996 novel by Helen Fielding. Seen with Hugh Grant