Renée Zellweger's Pre-Bridget Jones Career in 15 Throwback Photos

Vogue published a slideshow of 15 vintage photos celebrating Renée Zellweger's 57th birthday, tracing her early career from low-budget indies to Hollywood stardom before Bridget Jones's Diary. The Texan actress debuted in films like Dazed and Confused, Reality Bites, and Empire Records, then broke through with Jerry Maguire (1996), earning a SAG nomination and Critics' Choice breakthrough award. She dated Jim Carrey after co-starring in Me, Myself & Irene (1999) and won a Golden Globe for Nurse Betty (2000). The slideshow highlights her fashion evolution: a red lip and slip dress at the 1995 Independent Spirit Awards, a naked dress with Ashley Judd at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards, and a CBK-coded gown at the 1997 Met Gala. Other milestones include her front-row seat at Matt Nye's spring 2000 show beside Yoko Ono, and her lemon yellow Oscars gown at the 2001 Vanity Fair after-party. Zellweger won her first Oscar for Cold Mountain (2003) and a second for Judy (2019).