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Renee Zellweger said playing Judy Garland on film was like 'a love letter really'


Renee Zellweger, 50, says playing Judy Garland – who died at 47 – was a ‘celebration’ even though she had to wear ‘aging makeup’ so she would appear OLDER

Renee Zellweger admitted it was a ‘no brainer’ signing up for Judy.

The 50-year-old actress will portray the late Judy Garland in the upcoming biopic and when it was first pitched to her, she couldn’t find any faults with the idea. ‘For as long as I can remember, Judy Garland has been someone who has always just been there – well, I’m sure for you as well as me,’ she told Britain’s HELLO! magazine.

This comes after the star told Ellen DeGeneres that she suffered stage fright while singing in front of a real audience and also had to endure prosethtics and ‘aging makeup’ to look older even though the crooner died at age 47.

Good role: Renee Zellweger admitted it was a 'no brainer' signing up for 'Judy'. The 50-year-old actress will portray the late Judy Garland in the upcoming biopic and when it was first pitched to her, she couldn't find any faults with the idea

Good role: Renee Zellweger admitted it was a ‘no brainer’ signing up for ‘Judy’. The 50-year-old actress will portray the late Judy Garland in the upcoming biopic and when it was first pitched to her, she couldn’t find any faults with the idea

Stunning: Here the actress looked fabulous at the LA Premiere of Judy at Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 19 in Beverly Hills

Stunning: Here the actress looked fabulous at the LA Premiere of Judy at Samuel Goldwyn Theater on September 19 in Beverly Hills

‘So when I was asked to be part of this movie about her life, it seemed to me to be a no-brainer.

‘To be able to spend time exploring her, her life and her talent? What’s not to love about a project like that?’

Renee found working on the movie a ‘very special’ experience and it became like a ‘love letter’ to the Wizard of Oz star.

A new look: She had ageing makeup put on and wrinkles added to her face

A new look: She had ageing makeup put on and wrinkles added to her face

Dedicated: This comes after Renee told Ellen DeGeneres on Friday that she suffered stage fright while signing in front of an audience for the role. And she said she was really singing, she was not dubbed

Dedicated: This comes after Renee told Ellen DeGeneres on Friday that she suffered stage fright while signing in front of an audience for the role. And she said she was really singing, she was not dubbed

She added: ‘One thing I loved about making this movie was that making it didn’t feel like, Bang! Here we go off to the races.

‘It felt like a very quiet exploration of who Judy was, a learning experience.

‘Because everyone on the set had their own personal feelings about Judy, it didn’t even feel like a traditional movie-making experience, more like this daily co-operative celebration of her and what she meant to everyone.

The era: With her husband Mickey Deans on their wedding day. Within a year of her wedding photos being snapped, the world-famous singer and actor would be dead. She died on June 22, 1969, a little over fifty years ago

The era: With her husband Mickey Deans on their wedding day. Within a year of her wedding photos being snapped, the world-famous singer and actor would be dead. She died on June 22, 1969, a little over fifty years ago

Regal: Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, receiving Judy Garland, then Cliff Richard following a Royal Variety performance at the London Paladium, circa 1968

Regal: Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, receiving Judy Garland, then Cliff Richard following a Royal Variety performance at the London Paladium, circa 1968

‘I’ve never been part of something as special as that. It became like a love letter really.’

This comes after Renee told DeGeneres on Friday that she suffered stage fright while signing in front of an audience for the role.

As far as transforming to a blonde bombshell actress to a Hollywood vet, Renee said she wore a ‘fantastic wig’ and then did some tiny prosthetics.

She did not want to point out what the prosthetics were because she thinks that would ruin the experience. But she would say lined were drawn on her face.

And she said she was really singing, she was not dubbed. 

Loving: 'I've never been part of something as special as that. It became like a love letter really,' she said

Loving: ‘I’ve never been part of something as special as that. It became like a love letter really,’ she said

Judy is set in 1968, during a time when the Wizard Of Oz actress headed to London in an effort to revive her career.

The movie sees the star perform sold-out shows at the Talk of the Town nightclub, and follows her as she reminisces with friends and fans and begins a whirlwind romance with musician Mickey, who she married three months before her death.

Judy passed away at the age of 47 in 1969 due to an accidental overdose, and the film also touches on her struggles with drug and alcohol issues.

The movie is based on the musical drama End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter, which was adapted into a script written by ‘The Crown’ scribe Tom Edge.

 



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