Renée Zellweger has opened up about the scrutiny she has faced over her appearance, admitting that the speculation as to whether she’s had cosmetic surgery has given her “less fear”.
The ‘Bridget Jones’ actress caused a media frenzy last year, when she stepped out on the red carpet of the Elle Women In Hollywood Awards, after a period of time out of the spotlight, causing a flurry of headlines.
While she later said that the attention was “silly”, Renée has now revealed how it affected her.
Renée Zellweger
“What good comes from knowing that something like that happened? Less fear. Sure,” she told Entertainment Weekly.
“So when people come up to me to ask ‘How did that feel?’ I don’t know, and I like it like that. I don’t know. I know it sounds pretty unlikely that a person might be able to make herself, I guess, keep clear of those words or of that experience, but I have and it takes effort. But I have succeeded.”
Renée pictured in 2009
Last year, Renée claimed her change in appearance was due to leading a happier life, telling People magazine: "I'm glad folks think I look different! I'm living a different, happy, more fulfilling life, and I'm thrilled that perhaps it shows."
Renée is currently shooting the third ‘Bridget Jones’ film, currently slated for release in September 2016, which will see Helen Fielding’s character dealing with motherhood.
Renée Zellweger
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(01 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(02 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Renee Zellweger arrives at the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Red Carpet(03 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends ELLE's 21st Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jeff Vespa/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jeff Vespa via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(04 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(05 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(06 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Renee Zellweger arrives at the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(07 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Renee Zellweger arrives at the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(08 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Renee Zellweger arrives at the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(09 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Renee Zellweger arrives at the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(10 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Renee Zellweger and Doyle Bramhall arrives at the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(11 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Renee Zellweger arrives at the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(12 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Renee Zellweger and Doyle Bramhall arrives at the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(13 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Renee Zellweger and Doyle Bramhall arrives at the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
21st Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards(14 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at the 21st Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic) (credit:Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images)
21st Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards(15 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at the 21st Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic) (credit:Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images)
21st Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards(16 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at the 21st Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic) (credit:Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(17 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Arrivals(18 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jason Merritt via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Arrivals(19 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jason Merritt via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Arrivals(20 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends ELLE's 21st Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jason Merritt via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Arrivals(21 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends ELLE's 21st Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jason Merritt via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(22 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(23 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(24 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger (L) and recording artist Doyle Bramhall II arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(25 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(26 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(27 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(28 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood - Arrivals(29 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger arrives at ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (credit:Frazer Harrison via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Red Carpet(30 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends ELLE's 21st Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jeff Vespa/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jeff Vespa via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Roaming Inside(31 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Recording artist Doyle Bramhall II (L) and actress Renee Zellweger attend ELLE's 21st Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jeff Vespa/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jeff Vespa via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Arrivals(32 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends ELLE's 21st Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jason Merritt via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Arrivals(33 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends ELLE's 21st Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jason Merritt via Getty Images)
ELLE's 21st Annual Women In Hollywood Celebration - Arrivals(34 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends ELLE's 21st Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images for ELLE) (credit:Jason Merritt via Getty Images)
2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards - Arrivals(35 of35)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 20: Actress Renee Zellweger attends the 2014 ELLE Women In Hollywood Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel on October 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)