As a teen, Renée sported a voluminous hairstyle and dark lipstick. Before she became an actress, she worked as a cocktail waitress in Austin, Texas. She later earned her card from the Screen Actors Guild union after appearing in a beer commercial.

In 1998, Renée wore light makeup consisting of eyeliner, rosy cheeks, and pink lipstick. By that time, she had already starred in Jerry Maguire—a role that earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination—as well as A Price Above Rubies, and One True Thing.

Renée won her first Golden Globe for Best Actress after starring as a Kansas waitress in the black comedy Nurse Betty.

However, she was in the bathroom when her future co-star Hugh Grant read her name. "I had lipstick on my teeth," the actress explained when she finally took the stage. At the time, she rocked a stylish blonde bob.

The talented star appeared in several films toward the end of the 2000s, such as the period comedy Leatherheads, with George Clooney, and the western Appaloosa, next to Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.

She also played the mother of actor George Hamilton in the comedy My One and Only.

After filming My Own Love Song in 2010, Renée took a six-year acting hiatus, making her big screen comeback with Bridget Jones's Baby and The Whole Truth.

During her hiatus, she wrote music, studied international law, built a house, rescued dogs, spent time with family, and created a partnership that led to a production company.

For her many red carpet appearances this year, Renée styled her blonde locks in an updo and kept her makeup subtle.

In 2014, rumors began to circulate that Renée had undergone upper eye lift cosmetic surgery, when people said she looked unrecognizable at the Elle Magazine 21st Annual Women in Hollywood awards.

“'Not that it’s anyone’s business, but I did not make a decision to alter my face and have surgery on my eyes,” she wrote two years later.

“I’m glad folks think I look different! I’m living a different, happy, more fulfilling life, and I’m thrilled that perhaps it shows.”

Renée won an Academy Award for her portrayal of the iconic actress Judy Garland in the 2019 biographical drama Judy. She had previously received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in Cold Mountain.

Her performance as the Wizard of Oz star was critically acclaimed. Vanity Fair wrote: “It’s hard to tell where Garland stops and Zellweger starts.”

The actress wore long gowns that revealed her toned arms, and once again highlighted her natural beauty with subtle makeup looks.

In June 2021, Renée began dating the English television presenter Ant Anstead, best known for co-presenting the Channel 4 show For the Love of Cars.

The couple met while filming an episode of his Discovery+ series Celebrity IOU: Joyride.  

The Chicago actress and the Cops and Robbers author live in Southern California, near San Diego, with Ant’s five-year-old son, Hudson.

Renée continued to experiment with her makeup looks and hairstyles over the past few years.

During a recent interview with Hugh Grant, where she rocked slicked-back cropped hair, the Texas native shared her enthusiasm about reprising her role as Bridget Jones.

“Bridget is authentically herself and doesn’t always get it right, but whatever her imperfections, she remains joyful and optimistic, carries on, and triumphs in her own way.”

“I love her. And her story is not finished. As long as Helen puts pen to paper, she’s alive,” she told her co-star about Helen Fielding, the author of the Bridget Jones novels.