Her career

© Bridget Jones: The Age of Reason - Eigentum des Jeweiligen Studios/Vertriebes

Renée's come a long way from her Southern roots. Born to a Swiss father and a Norwegian mother in Katy, near Houston, she first discovered her passion for acting at drama club in high school. In 1995, Renée left her home state and moved to the bright lights of Los Angeles to seek her fortune. After a series of minor roles, her breakthrough came in 1996 when she was given an audition with Cameron Crowe, who cast her in a supporting role in blockbuster Jerry Maguire.

Renée's career took off and in 1998 she starred alongside Meryl Streep in the drama One True Thing. She then played in a string of comedies including Nurse Betty, in which she played an amnesiac nurse, and Me, Myself and Irene with Jim Carrey. The two began a relationship on set which lasted for 18 months.

Her biggest role yet, that brought her universal acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic was, of course, that of Bridget Jones in the film adaptations of Helen Fielding's popular novels. Renée was nominated for an Oscar for her spot-on portrayal of the Chardonnay-swigging, yoyo-dieting, neurotic thirysomething Bridget. She even put on 20 kilos on a diet of pizza and doughnuts and promptly lost the weight after filming (and then piled it on again for the sequel). She then sang and danced her way to another Oscar nomination alongside Catherine Zeta Jones and Richard Gere in the musical Chicago (2003), and joined forces with her Miss Potter co-star Ewan McGregor for Down With Love. 

Director Anthony Minghella cast Renée in probably her most critically-acclaimed role yet, as gutsy farm girl Ruby in Cold Mountain, alongside Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. She finally won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar as well as a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her earthy, sensitive portrayal of Ruby. She's also been honoured wih a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - proof the girl from small-town Texas has made it big.