Hot on the heels of last week's BAFTA win, last night Renée Zellweger picked up the Oscar for Best Actress, thus utterly conquering awards season. Her beguiling performance as the misunderstood and complex icon Judy Garland has been described as ‘transcendent’, returning her to the top of the A-list elite.
Not that the star is forgetting the friends who’ve helped her re-establish herself. After her triumph at the BAFTAs, Renée, 50, dedicated her award to her British co-star Jessie Buckley. At the after-party, Grazia watched as Renée and Jessie celebrated, inseparable all night. Another old friend, Renée’s Bridget Jones co-star Hugh Grant, was also on hand to congratulate her, saying, ‘Well done, Jones. That was a silly little dress’ – an allusion to his character Daniel Cleaver, who fixated on Bridget’s ‘silly little skirt’. The pair then spent most of the after-party catching up.
Renée, who spoke to Grazia at the after-party, told us how ‘very special’ Hugh’s speech was. ‘I am so, so lucky to have so many wonderful friends and memories in this town,’ she said. Asked about how she was going to celebrate, she responded, ‘Honey, you’re looking at it!’
Renée’s success, however, hasn’t come easily. She has spoken publicly of her struggles with depression, which led to her taking a six-year Hollywood hiatus, beginning in 2010. ‘I wasn’t healthy,’ she told New York Magazine last year. ‘I wasn’t taking care of myself. I was the last thing on my list of priorities.’ She’s also suffered heartache. In 2006, she split from husband Kenny Chesney, dated Jim Carrey for a year, was briefly linked to Bradley Cooper, and then settled with guitarist Doyle Bramhall. However, the couple went their separate ways (our source adds ‘on reasonable terms’) last May. When she was publicly attacked for her changing face during these years, she wrote a scathing riposte to her critics, in an open letter entitled ‘We can do better’.
But after those turbulent years, according to Grazia’s sources, Renée is finally truly content. ‘She’s an independent soul who insists she doesn’t need a man to be happy,’ our source reveals. ‘She’s been on a few dates but nothing’s really clicked and she’s fine with that.’ And instead of leading a Hollywood lifestyle, Renée – whose breakout role was 1996’s Jerry Maguire, and who won an Oscar for Cold Mountain – is quite low-key. She prefers to hang out with a close group of ‘non-famous friends’ from her old life. ‘I depend on my little group of girlfriends, all of them brilliant,’ she has said. ‘We get together and watch Lemonade [Beyoncé’s visual album] and email a million Lemonade jokes. And mantras.’
Renée conceded that she will never be ‘good at being a public person, because there’s nothing natural about it’. But she admitted that she’s getting better at that side of things. ‘My girlfriends have a lot to do with that, because we can laugh about it.’ Her key to success is self-belief. ‘Assume in your favour,’ she said. ‘That voice is talking anyway, so it might as well be on your side. You know, Beyoncé doesn’t sit backstage thinking, “This is never going to work.”’
Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding tells Grazia that Renée’s brilliance comes from her tenacity. ‘When she was cast as Bridget, there was a certain amount of outrage because she wasn’t British. That must have hurt. People admire Renée for sticking with it and making a huge success of the role,’ she says, adding that Renée was ‘lovely’ to work with and, as a method actor, spoke in a British accent off-camera, occasionally startling people by switching back to her Texan drawl. Renée’s power, adds Helen, comes from her ‘extraordinary ability to convey vulnerability – this is equally true with Bridget and Judy.’
Sharon Maguire directed both 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary and 2016's Bridget Jones's Baby. So how did she find the star had changed over that 15-year period? ' When we started out on BJD, we were both busking it somewhat,' Sharon tells Grazia. 'She was a Texan trying to play a Brit and I was a director of documentaries and commercials directing my first movie. We were both honest enough to want to learn from each other. 15 years on, we’d both learned a lot more, and Renée especially. I was in awe of how many comedic choices she brought to set for each scene. Her range has become vast and surprising. She’s an amazing and subtle comedienne, but luckily she’s also a great dramatic actress, which means she can bring emotional truth to the Bridget character while also servicing the comedy. Not an easy feat, but she often makes it look effortless.'
At first glance, Renée might have been an unusual choice for Judy – with the biopic focusing on the troubled last years of her life, high on prescription drugs, low on cash and losing custody of her kids. But director Rupert Goold told Grazia that working with her was a dream. ‘The best thing about Renée is that she’s really funny,’ he said. ‘She’s also very hard-working and, as a director, that’s what you want. Every shot she was hungry for notes. She’s very gracious.’
Sharon Maguire tells Grazia the Oscar could not be more deserved, explaining the film 'ripped me apart emotionally. Not because she portrayed an actress down on her luck, not only because she sang with an almighty voice and from the heart, but because she portrayed a mother torn from her children. The movie did me in. I was in bits.'
Post-Oscars, Renée will no doubt retreat to her Topanga Canyon ranch. ‘She likes to unwind through meditation, reading, writing or just relaxing in the garden. It’s her little piece of paradise and Topanga reminds her of Texas,’ Grazia’s source says. She enjoys a quiet life and has been sober ‘for years’. When asked about drinking recently, Renée said, wistfully, ‘There was a time...’ before adding, ‘I’m not that exciting any more.’ Hollywood begs to differ – the Renéessance has arrived.
READ MORE: Former Couple Renée Zellweger And Bradley Cooper Had The Cutest Reunion At The Oscars
All the best looks from the Oscars red carpet
Oscars 2020: All The Best Looks From The Red Carpet
![Saoirse Ronan in Gucci](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a11f/70dd/3c67/b703/d218/GettyImages-1205139703.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Saoirse Ronan in Gucci – the black peplum top was made from the same fabric as her BAFTAs dress
![Olivia Colman debuted newly blonde hair and a Stella McCartney dress](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/98bc/a952/53af/6bef/852f/GettyImages-1205134222.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Olivia Colman debuted newly blonde hair and a Stella McCartney dress
![Laura Dern in Armani Privu00e9](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/91f8/a952/53e5/02ef/8507/GettyImages-1199747828.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Laura Dern in Armani Privé
![Zazie Beetz in Thom Browne](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92a3/9fdb/1c2b/0f23/800c/GettyImages-1205118701.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Zazie Beetz in Thom Browne
![Lily Aldridge in an archive Ralph Lauren dress, Jimmy Choo heels and Bulgari jewels](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92a5/a952/530a/f0ef/850d/GettyImages-1205113353.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Lily Aldridge in an archive Ralph Lauren dress, Jimmy Choo heels and Bulgari jewels
![Billy Porter in custom Giles Deacon with custom Jimmy Choo heels](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92a6/8e1b/fd24/5b52/24e3/GettyImages-1205115020.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Billy Porter in custom Giles Deacon with custom Jimmy Choo heels
![Regina King wore Versace with $500,000 worth of Harry Winston jewellery](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92a7/50c8/70bc/9488/6b29/GettyImages-1205126632.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Regina King wore Versace with $500,000 worth of Harry Winston jewellery
![Julia Butters in a pink Christian Siriano ensemble with a Lark & Berry necklace](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92aa/9fdb/1c0f/8a23/800d/GettyImages-1205125404.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Julia Butters in a pink Christian Siriano ensemble with a Lark & Berry necklace
![Sigourney Weaver in Christian Dior](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92aa/70dd/3ccd/8403/d1c2/GettyImages-1205129292.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Sigourney Weaver in Christian Dior
![Idina Menzel in a J.Mendel dress](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92ac/a952/531e/00ef/850e/GettyImages-1205127517.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Idina Menzel in a J.Mendel dress
![America Ferrera in a red Alberta Ferretti dress and a Jennifer Behr headpiece](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92ae/8e1b/fd77/c852/24e4/GettyImages-1205128224.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
America Ferrera in a red Alberta Ferretti dress and a Jennifer Behr headpiece
![Kristin Cavallari in a strapless ice blue gown by Valdrin Sahiti](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92ae/70dd/3c3b/b603/d1c3/GettyImages-1205114674.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Kristin Cavallari in a strapless ice blue gown by Valdrin Sahiti
![Mindy Kaling wore a one shoulder, canary yellow gown](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92b1/70dd/3cd4/4903/d1c5/GettyImages-1205130297.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Mindy Kaling wore a one shoulder, canary yellow gown by Dolce & Gabbana
![Spike Lee (who attended with his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee) wore a suit in tribute to Kobe Bryant](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92b1/50c8/7081/d888/6b2a/GettyImages-1205129312.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Spike Lee (who attended with his wife, Tonya Lewis Lee) wore a suit in tribute to Kobe Bryant
![Chrissy Metz in Christian Siriano](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/92b2/a952/5323/adef/850f/GettyImages-1205129162.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Chrissy Metz in Christian Siriano
![Kelly Marie Tran](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9a46/9fdb/1c9d/4823/8032/GettyImages-1205132939.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Kelly Marie Tran
![Billie Eilish in head-to-toe Chanel](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9a49/8e1b/fd4d/2952/250e/GettyImages-1205132490.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Billie Eilish in head-to-toe Chanel
![Beanie Feldstein wore custom Miu Miu](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9a4a/a952/53a6/daef/8538/GettyImages-1205134081.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Beanie Feldstein wore custom Miu Miu
![Kaitlyn Dever wore a fully sustainable dress by Louis Vuitton](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9a4a/8e1b/fd6c/f552/250f/GettyImages-1205131754.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Kaitlyn Dever wore a fully sustainable dress by Louis Vuitton
![Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a custom navy silk dress by Vera Wang](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9a4c/a952/53df/12ef/8539/GettyImages-1205134107.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a custom navy silk dress by Vera Wang
![Janelle Monae wore a silver sequined Ralph Lauren gown, complete with matching hood](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9a4c/9fdb/1c1f/3d23/8033/GettyImages-1205133011.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Janelle Monae wore a silver sequined Ralph Lauren gown, complete with matching hood
![Rebel Wilson in custom Jason Wu](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9cd1/70dd/3cff/e803/d1f8/GettyImages-1205136269.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Rebel Wilson in custom Jason Wu
![Greta Gerwig wore a custom Christian Dior Haute Couture gown](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9cd3/70dd/3c4a/8503/d1f9/GettyImages-1205136257.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Greta Gerwig wore a custom Christian Dior Haute Couture gown
![Sandra Oh wore an amazing Elie Saab gown with dramatic sleeves](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9cd4/50c8/708f/8c88/6b56/GettyImages-1205136234.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Sandra Oh wore an amazing Elie Saab gown with dramatic sleeves
![Geena Davis](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9e86/50c8/707c/9d88/6b60/GettyImages-1205136755.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Geena Davis
![Costume designer Sandy Powell wore the same suit she wore to the BAFTAs, which was signed by an array of A-listers and will be auctioned for charity](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9e89/70dd/3cf3/7903/d203/GettyImages-1205135386.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Costume designer Sandy Powell wore the same suit she wore to the BAFTAs, which was signed by an array of A-listers and will be auctioned for charity
![Maya Rudolph](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9e8a/70dd/3c15/a703/d204/GettyImages-1205137736.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Maya Rudolph in a bronze sequined dress
![James Corden with his wife, Julia Carey](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9e8b/70dd/3cac/5c03/d205/GettyImages-1205135352.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
James Corden with his wife, Julia Carey
![Margaret Qualley in a black Chanel dress with feathered hem](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/9f7e/70dd/3c9d/4403/d20d/GettyImages-1205138621.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Margaret Qualley in a black Chanel dress with feathered hem
![Salma Hayek Pinault wore a white Gucci gown](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a05c/70dd/3c5c/cd03/d213/GettyImages-1205139084.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Salma Hayek Pinault wore a white Gucci gown
![Penu00e9lope Cruz in a Chanel dress inspired by a 1995 creation from the fashion house](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a05e/8e1b/fdbb/e652/2537/GettyImages-1205139066.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Penélope Cruz in a Chanel dress inspired by a 1995 creation from the fashion house
![Kathy Bates in Giorgio Armani](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a11e/9fdb/1c0d/e723/8050/GettyImages-1205139156.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Kathy Bates in Giorgio Armani
![Cynthia Erivo in Atelier Versace](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a40c/9fdb/1c44/b323/805d/GettyImages-1205140318.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Cynthia Erivo in Atelier Versace
![Florence Pugh in Louis Vuitton](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a40f/50c8/70dd/f188/6b7c/GettyImages-1205140271.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Florence Pugh in Louis Vuitton
![Renu00e9e Zellweger in Armani Privu00e9](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a40e/a952/5380/43ef/8569/GettyImages-1205140954.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Renée Zellweger in Armani Privé
![Rooney Mara wore custom Alexander McQueen](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a4f1/a952/5357/deef/8572/GettyImages-1205140249.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Rooney Mara wore custom Alexander McQueen
![Natalie Portman wore a Dior look with a cape embroidered with the names of all the women who were snubbed by the Academy this year](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a515/50c8/7017/b388/6b7e/GettyImages-1205140251.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Natalie Portman wore a Dior look with a cape embroidered with the names of all the women who were snubbed by the Academy this year
![Camilla Morrone](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a516/70dd/3c3a/d603/d22c/GettyImages-1205140344.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Camilla Morrone
![Lucy Boynton wore a Chanel dress from the SS20 collection](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a888/9fdb/1c1b/9923/8072/GettyImages-1205141251.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Lucy Boynton wore a Chanel dress from the SS20 collection
![Margot Robbie wore Chanel](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a88a/70dd/3cd9/d503/d23f/GettyImages-1205141329.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Margot Robbie wore Chanel
![Brad Pitt](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a88b/8e1b/fd1b/7352/255f/GettyImages-1205141170.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Brad Pitt
![Timothu00e9e Chalamet in Prada](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a904/50c8/700a/4288/6b92/GettyImages-1205141314.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Timothée Chalamet in Prada
![Kristen Wiig wore Valentino Haute Couture](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a9bf/a952/538f/82ef/858e/GettyImages-1205141415.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Kristen Wiig wore Valentino Haute Couture
![Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a9c2/70dd/3c09/8303/d243/GettyImages-1205142452.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture
![Leonardo DiCaprio in Giorgio Armani](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a9c3/a952/531a/31ef/858f/GettyImages-1205142432.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Leonardo DiCaprio in Giorgio Armani
![Brie Larson in Celine](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a9c3/9fdb/1cb9/5d23/8076/GettyImages-1205141470.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Brie Larson in Celine
![Colin Jost with Scarlett Johansson, who wore custom Oscar de la Renta](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a9c4/8e1b/fd44/7a52/2568/GettyImages-1205142058.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Colin Jost with Scarlett Johansson, who wore custom Oscar de la Renta
![Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a9c6/50c8/7012/4888/6b99/GettyImages-1205142091.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
![Gal Gadot in Givenchy Haute Couture](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/a9c6/50c8/7048/1188/6b98/GettyImages-1205141482.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Gal Gadot in Givenchy Haute Couture
![Lu00e9a Seydoux in a white Louis Vuitton dress](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5e40/ae6f/a952/5342/45ef/85a5/GettyImages-1205143579.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)