When Renée Zellweger made her triumphant return to acting in 2016, fans were thrilled to see her back on the big screen. Now, as she prepares to dazzle audiences as Judy Garland in the upcoming biopic Judy, the star has shared a candid look at why she stepped away from Hollywood in the first place. Depression and an overwhelming need to prioritize her mental health led her to take a break from the spotlight back in 2010. It’s a story of resilience, self-discovery, and learning to put herself first.
Why Renée Zellweger Walked Away from Hollywood
Renée, now 50, opened up to Vulture about the challenges she faced before taking her six-year hiatus. “I wasn’t healthy. I wasn’t taking care of myself. I was the last thing on my list of priorities,” she confessed. It was a wake-up call that sent her to therapy for the first time in her life. “My therapist recognized that I had spent 99 percent of my life as the public persona and just a microscopic crumb of a fraction in my real life,” she added. This realization was pivotal in helping her understand the toll her career had taken on her personal well-being.
Therapy Helped Her Find Balance
Through therapy, Renée found the tools she needed to manage her emotions and take a much-needed break from the pressures of the entertainment industry. “I needed to not have something to do all the time, to not know what I’m going to be doing for the next two years in advance,” she explained. “I wanted to allow for some accidents. There had to be some quiet for the ideas to slip in.” This period of reflection and self-care gave her the space to rediscover herself outside of the spotlight.
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Depression and Perspective
Renée’s time in therapy also helped her confront her battle with depression. With her characteristic humor, she joked, “Nothing like international humiliation to set your perspective right!” She laughed off the challenges, noting, “It clarifies what’s important to you. And it shakes off any sort of clingy superficiality… that you didn’t have time for anyway.” Her ability to find humor in tough situations is a testament to her strength and resilience.
Stepping Back from the Spotlight
During her hiatus, Renée stepped away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, avoiding red carpets, major interviews, and the constant scrutiny that comes with being a public figure. “One of the fears that maybe, as artists, we all share—because we have this public experience of being criticized not just for our work but as human beings—is when it gets to be too much,” she said. “When you learn that your skin is not quite as thick as you need it to be, what is that gonna feel like? Well, now I know. I got the hardest kick. And it ain’t the end.”
A New Chapter
Although Renée kept a low profile for over six years, she insists that her difficult period only lasted about a year. “I had a good five-year period when I was joyful and in a new chapter that no one was even aware of,” she shared. Her return to acting in 2016 with Bridget Jones’s Baby marked the beginning of a fresh start, and fans have been eagerly following her journey ever since.
If you’re eager to see Renée tackle the iconic role of Judy Garland, don’t miss Judy, hitting theaters on September 27.
