Celebrity

10 Times Renée Zellweger’s Roles Blew Our Minds

To mark The Thing About Pam’s UK premiere on Paramount+, we look back at the actor’s most remarkable makeovers and costumes.

by Sophie McEvoy
Renée Zellweger as Pam Hupp in 'The Thing About Pam'
Skip Bolen/NBC

Miramax Films/Universal Pictures

There are so many iconic outfits from Bridget Jones’s Diary, but nothing beats the bunny costume designed by The Great British Sewing Bee’s Esme Young, no less.

Miramax Films/Universal Pictures

Skip Bolen/NBC

It took four hours to change Zellweger into Pam Hupp for The Thing About Pam, which included “lots of Benadryl” (to soothe Zellweger’s allergy to the adhesives needed by the prosthetics.)

Skip Bolen/NBC

Miramax

Zellweger shines like a diamond as Roxie Hart in Chicago, taking the 1920’s flapper look to the max during “Roxie.”

Miramax

Momentum Pictures/MGM

Based on the life of Beatrice Potter, Zellweger’s clothes in Miss Potter make the most of the era’s Edwardian fashion.

Momentum Pictures/MGM

Universal Pictures

Once again set in the 1920s, Leatherheads sees Zellweger in a more subdued look with platinum locks and striking red lipstick.

Universal Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures

Zellweger plays young widow Allie French in Appaloosa sporting a more casual old Western look, compared to the dresses and skirts worn by some at the time.

Warner Bros. Pictures

Herrick Entertainment/Freestyle Releasing

Zellweger takes elements of her looks from Chicago and Leatherheads in My One and Only, with added 1950’s glamour.

Herrick Entertainment/Freestyle Releasing

Paramount Pictures

Zellweger’s change from her usual dusty blonde to brunette makes her almost unrecognisable in Same Kind Of Different As Me, accompanied by a softer, muted palette of clothes.

Paramount Pictures

20th Century Fox

Nothing short of renowned, Zellweger’s transformation into Judy Garland for Judy won her an Academy Award.

20th Century Fox

Trimark Pictures

More subtle but none the less iconic, Zellweger rocked the early ‘90s boho look in Love and a .45. The hot pants and blouse vest combo could totally pass as a festival outfit now, tbh.

Trimark Pictures