Yesterday, I covered the first excerpts from Us Weekly’s Renee Zellweger cover story – go here to read. I actually enjoy this debate about Renee and how we should treat/cover celebrity plastic surgery. My take aligns with CB’s take which is basically that they’re celebrities on a red carpet and if the work is noticeable, why is “wrong” to notice? Of course there are struggles with aging in Hollywood and in the real world, and if you’re getting something done to make yourself feel better, God bless. But I also think it’s human nature to NOTICE when someone dramatically changes their appearance, and like I always say, judging comes naturally to most people too. Anyway, there are more excerpts from Us Weekly’s story:
New York cosmetic surgeon Victoria Karlinsky tells Us that Zellweger “likely had upper-lid surgery to make her eyes look more open as well as a very conservative tupe of rhinoplasty to narrow the bridge of her nose.”
Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon Davis Alessi “suspects she had fat removed from her cheeks. She probably also had Botox injected into her jaw muscles to make them thinner.”
So why did Zellweger do it? A Zellweger confidant tells Us Weekly: “She is sort of obsessed with staying younger and is having a hard time accepting she’s not the hot young thing in Hollywood anymore. But the problem is she didn’t appreciate everything that made her interesting and special.”
In 2010, “The parts started drying up. She wonders what’s wrong with her and why she isn’t getting the roles she used to,” says the confidant.
Nowadays, Renee enjoys a quieter existence, mostly settled in an oceanfront Santa Monica condo. She “is extremely health conscious and does a lot of yoga and all the workout fads. She’s always trying different diets and meal delivery services.”
Boyfriend Doyle Bramhall shares her passion for healthy living too: “They work out together and both love being outside. He’s someone she can be quiet with. That’s rare.”
Still, the source close to Zellweger takes issue with the notion that love is itself a facelift: “Renee’s in a great relationship and at peace for the first time. But unfortunately, happiness doesn’t raise your eyelids or make you look more awake.”
Though criticism about her looks has dampened her mood – “Renee is putting on a brave façade but she is shaken by the blowup this week” – it just may help her career. She’s currently working on Same Kind of Different as Me in Mississippi and the coverage about her face could help the release of The Whole Truth next year.
[From Us Weekly, print edition]
I agree that Renee didn’t really embrace her old face. Us Weekly included some of the harsher criticism, including what one bitchy movie critic said about her face a few years ago, referring to it as “weird” and “rabbity.” It’s a cruel world out there and insecurity is a bitch. But… Renee’s face still makes me sad.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Renee Zellweger was the hot young thing in Hollywood at one time?
exactly
LOL Yes, my question exactly.
Yeah when was that??
That’s what I was going to ask.
I mean, Renee is a very attractive woman, but she was never a stunner of the Charlize Theron or Catherine Zeta Jones type. And that’s no bad thing. She never got parts just because of her looks, but because she’s a really good actress.
GIIIIRRRLLLL this is all i came in a rush about: WHEN???!?!?!
I mean we always gave her
CUTE
ADORABLE
TALENTED
CAPABLE
uhhh… GOOD
DIFFERENT
FUNNY
But when was it Hot Young Thing?? These people have such a skewed perception of reality AND themselves ffs!
I think it could be interpreted in two ways. Hot young thing, might not refer to her being the hot young thing as in sexpot, but hot as in getting a lot of roles, while being young. Who knows?
I do feel sorry for her at this point for the extreme attention being paid to her, for ostensibly, the wrong reasons.
“Renee Zellweger ‘is having a hard time accepting she’s not the hot young thing’”
Join the club, esp when you see self-absorbed young women posting selfies everywhere and not developing their skills, personality. Looks do not last forever. At least she has money in the bank.
It seems like this line from the tabloid just opens up another excuse for people to trash her looks. Last week they were trashing how she looks now…this week they are trashing how she used to look when she was in her 20s. When will it end?
I might be alone here, but I reject the idea that Renee ever wanted to be the “hot young thing”. That wasn’t the angle she took when her career was at its peak. She is essentially a character actor that had some ingénue roles. She’s done quite a lot of period work over her career (Cinderella Man, Chicago, Cold Mountain, Leatherheads, Miss Potter), and unglamorous roles. I just don’t believe that she would put herself in that box.
We all know tabloids make things up, especially when it comes to feelings and motivation. I think this is just more of the same from them.
No, I agree with you up to a point. I still think that she had eyelid surgery done for the exact same reason as a lot of people have it done. Drooping eyelids give you terrible migrains. And I think she used to do botox, but on these photos you can clearly see wrinkles in the normal places for someone her age. I think she has accepted the aging process these days. It’s just that the eyelids really alter your appearance. When my father-in law had his done it took us forever to get used to his new face.
I had a professor that had to have his lids done because of vision/headache problems as well.
I remember when Jerry Maguire came out, she was very popular with older men. She had that sexy/cute vibe going on .
What is with the boyfriend? He is a handsome man underneath the hair and beard. Why?
Howard Stern wants his hair back!
Agreed… Young crying Looking thing maybe…
Anxiously awaiting Kiddo’s appearance and subsequent swooning over ⚫️BRAMHALL⚫️.
⚫️BRAMHALL⚫️
..and also WAY too much evaluation of Renee; enough already. Leave her alone.
Evaluation of ⚫️BRAMHALL⚫️ NOW!
That’s it? Or is that everything?
⚫️BRAMHALL⚫️ IS EVERYTHING.
I’m all for doing what you want to your body for whatever reasons, as long as its your choice. BUT, once someone gets work done, they shouldn’t be surprised when people talk about it. Regardless if the work is subtle or not. I mean, Raquel Welch isn’t fooling herself into thinking that we think she’s a natural beauty at almost 75, is she?
I think people are still talking about it because she keeps denying the unnatural cosmetic changes. If she’d just owned it, I don’t think it would still be an issue.
Also, that dude’s ‘fro IS the look! It’s even better than Lady GagMe’s.
She is not on trial, she doesn’t owe anyone a answer to what she did or didnt do.
Renee responded to the question once and she didnt lie, she chose what to focus on with her answer and she hasnt said peep since.
Its the press who keepnharassing the woman about it.
She looks fine, imo.
She doesn’t need to go into details about what she did , it’s obvious she had her eyes done, why would she want to sit and discuss that with a reporter or the world if she doesn’t want to.
She didn’t commit a crime.
Raquel is a feat of nature. She looks fabulous. Just like Sophia Loren. These two women with Mediterranean heritage, Spain and Italy, have aged beautifully with a few nips and tucks. I wonder if it the food they eat or just genetics?
I never thought much about her one way or another, but she did have a distinctive, kind of endearing look. Now she looks like any interchangeable Hollywood middle aged blonde.
I agree that noticing a new face is only natural. However, noticing it once, then moving on and mags continuing to go on and on and on about it is another.
She thinks she had it hard???? Try telling that to SJP who is regularly topping ‘ugly’ lists despite not being Ugly/homely etc at all.
I always feel bad for SJP when those lists come out. And the thing is, I always thought that she was beautiful…she is a striking woman.
I always though SJP and Renee were both stunning women, I was perplexed why people said SJP was ugly. I never understood it.
There are lists? That is so rude. I don’t even get when people say “Oh he or she is so ugly”. I mean that’s always subjective, nothing more.
I don’t know what I’d do if I was in Renees or Sarahs shoes….I absolutely hate plastic surgery (except you had a really bad accident or something really extreme), but the pressure on them must be horrible. Women are unfortunately still defined by beauty and I can’t imagine working in a business like Hollywood and being constantly bashed because of your looks or because you don’t look good enough. A part of me understands Renees actions and a part of me just can’t.
I agree with you about SJP. I have always thought that she is stunning. I never understood the hateful comments.
I used to want to BE sjp when I was in 1st and 2nd grade. My babysitter watched Girls Just Want to Have Fun repeatedly, and I wanted to be Janie so badly! I thought she was so pretty…and she could do backflips!
Renee got quite a bit herself, but yeah, I was pretty horrified at some of the stuff that’s been said about SJP in the past. I remember Esquire magazine describing SitC’s most difficult aspect as, “Getting through an entire episode of looking at [SJP’s] face.” She later admitted that it upset her, and no f*cking shit it did – who wouldn’t be hurt by that? It is unbelievable how acceptable it is in our culture to be downright cruel to women about their looks.
i cant lie, i think sjp looks like a horse or a foot with 2 eyes drawn on it. when people say they think she is pretty, im pretty baffled.
Of course it’s her choice to do with herself whatever she wants…. but I miss her former face. I loved its unique beauty and I wish she felt better about herself to stay away from the face doc. I don’t think any amount of plastic surgery is going to truly fix her self-loathing. It’s a bandaid on cancer.
I hope she finds a way to accept herself as is and give herself the grace to embrace her own special uniqueness, whether Hollywood does so or not.
Whatever procedures she’s had doesn’t make her look younger imo.
Exactly, which is why I call BS on the story. I believe she has deep insecurity around her looks and her weight but I don’t think the crux of it is fear of not being young and hot. I think it’s more about fear of being seen as unattractive in general, regardless of age, given the harsh criticism leveled at her for so long.
This makes sense.
that was never her appeal though
i loved her in nurse betty and having some talent gives her the ability to work all her life as opposed to say the girl who plays the jump off in gone girl.
but i know that when you are displeased with something about yourself, that logic and reason dont really have a place in that argument.
This woman is spending way too much time self-evaluating. Take it as it comes. Can’t be twenty forever. I picture her with a bottle of wine watching herself and mouthing the words I loved you at hello………….teehee…….everybody grows old or dies young missy, just enjoy the ride!
it’s the press taking too much time bitching about her getting eye work done.
Renee seems just fine, IMO. She’s back at work on some film and going about her business.
People were making comments about her face even when she was young; seems like aging was just another factor in her decision to get surgery. It’s sad, since it’s damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
I have low eyelids, and in my early 30’s had a consultation to have them lifted. I rarely wear makeup, never put product in my hair, and try to limit my body’s toxin load (partly because I have an autoimmune disorder, partly because I am lazyish about styling), so it really is not about how others see me.My desire t have my eyebrows lifted is not for cosmetic reasons, but heavy lids are physically uncomfortable. You can’t really wear eye makeup well, because of the oils and creasing that happens within half an hour of putting it on, so the makeup bunches (yes, even with powders and foundation applied), mascara transfers to your eyelid, and by the end of the day there is a very heavy feeling in the eye. I don’t know what Renee’s motive was, but I can definitely understand if it was significantly influenced by the physical aspect of low lids mores than the cosmetic. Her lids appear to have been much heavier than mine. If it was, though, I wish she would just address it. And I am not a fan of her acting and speaking interviews at all, so I’m not a defender. Just a relater, maybe?
I know two women who have had this procedure. It actually affected their driving and Medicare paid for it. I could see this as being Rene’s issue too. I still think she’s attractive and a great actress and don’t judge her for doing it.
I am surprised she isn’t getting parts. I kind of assumed she had taken a step back from hollywood by choice. She is actually a very good actress and should be working even though she is getting older. She is not one of those actresses that got parts because if her looks only. I mean she should at least be getting some good TV work. HBO or something like that.
I just really loved her old face. It makes me sad that she did this.
I think she looked her best as Bridget Jones. More weight looked great on her. Of course, like every actress in Hollywood they want to starve themselves to nothingness. Sad.
Years, years, years ago, Cindy Crawford talked about her trademark mole and flat out said she would never have it removed because it’s what made her different from other models. Did it preclude her never having a little work done? No, and I’m pretty sure we can agree that on top of generally taking care of herself and her skin, she’s probably had a tweak or two.
But she’s never messed with what made her “her” to the public.
I’m sorry Renee couldn’t follow in those footsteps, especially with all of her achievements (including an Oscar). I get that there’s pressure to stay “fresh.” She took it too far, though.
Lauren Hutton was told repeatedly to fix the gap in her teeth and she was very successful as a model and actress. Barbra Streisand famously refused to touch her nose for fear of ruining her voice. Plenty of women do just fine without giving in to the pressure to conform to a generic appearance.
Strange thing for me is that I find her new face gorgeous. I’m just unable to properly associate it with RZ. I keep looking and saying “that is NOT Renee Zellweger!”
She has Naomi Watts’ face now. Naomi is beautiful so I still think Renee is beautiful.
Her original face was pretty and adorable. But folks out there did make fun of her squinty eyes, and puffy cheeks and lips. They seemed to get more intense as she got older. Anyway, feel bad now, I was one of those folks…forgetting her looks are what made her so unique, and her talent made her a great actress.
I’m beginning to think that the eye surgery is not the problem as much as the nose job, jawline restructuring, cheek de-fatting, etc. Now she looks like every other Hollywood bimbo. Even if she had ONLY had her eyelids done, she would still look very much the same.
She looks just about the same to me, except for the eyework.
I still think she only had her eyes done. She looks the same everywhere else imo.
Did she really not think people were going to notice? I previously mentioned that she should have said it was for medical reasons and called it a day. Now I think the eyelids were just a piece of a whole facial overhaul. On topic, though, I doubt she ever saw her self as a young, hot thing.
You don’t say.. it’s so painful obvious.. I just would like celebrities to open up and talk about it, instead there’s this huge elephant in the room or something, and you’re supposed to know but you can’t say anything. I call all of this BS.
Then, ok, even if she did come out and told everyone ‘I had this and this done’ I would still feel a bit disappointed. It’s her own choice, yes, but I just found her so beautiful and now.. all of that is gone.
But the thing is all these actresses were most like getting little things done in their 20’s and 30’s. I use to see so many actresses young and more mature leaving the plastic surgeons office in Becerly Hills. Many were so called “natural you g beauties”… Almost all of hollywood is sticking botox in their faces or getting an adjustment somewhere, it’s just that they keep their major facial trademarks, so no one usually notices.
I think Renee has only had her eyes done.
I don’t think she looks like she had work done, I think she forgot sunscreen. For like a month.
It’s frustrating. It’s the whole “shaming” culture coming to a head. No one wants to be criticized for anything, ever, at all … and they certainly don’t want to have any consequences. If you look like a walking skeleton, yes you’re too thin, and yes I will notice. If you hack your face up with plastic surgery, yes I will notice. No one is saying you shouldn’t be free to do what you want, but your actions have consequences and reactions from others, and that’s not always wrong.
For the record, I don’t think she did a thing to her jaw. I think she simply stopped purging. She had a bulimia jaw, swollen glands and all. I think she was beautiful then, she is a different kind of beautiful now, and that’s ok. I think we just need to leave her alone.
I agree with you, Tania. PRIMARILY – the part about us “just needing to leave her alone.” But I also wouldn’t be surprised if “something” back in the day was making her face and eyes puffy . . . and now she is no longer bothered by the “something.” Whatever the case, it’s none of our beeswax . All I know is that she still looks beautiful and it’s nice to see her around again.
Oh come on, she’s an adult working in an industry that depends upon her appearance, she wants us to notice her and remember her, we are all entitled to comment on her appearance, it’s the product she markets to us.
I don’t think she actually looks radically different. Yes, her eyes are wider, which could be a blessing as she gets older and the lids get heavier. And she’s more contoured in the face, and tan, but she is still recognizable. The lips are the same as is her chin.
But the thing is all these actresses were most like getting little things done in their 20’s and 30’s. I use to see so many actresses young and more mature leaving the plastic surgeons office in Becerly Hills. Many were so called “natural you g beauties”… Almost all of hollywood is sticking botox in their faces or getting an adjustment somewhere, it’s just that they keep their major facial trademarks, so no one usually notices.
I think Renee has only had her eyes done.
It took me awhile, but I finally figured out who she kind of reminds me of now: Robin Wright, sort of.
She was always more like Maryl Streep type. Not ugly, not particular pretty, but good actress.
It’s not like she was Charlize Theron or Nicole Kidman pretty. She should have follow Maryl Street and audition and beg for supporting roles in big movies or in Oscar movies. Fight for her career. But I feel like she was just sitting and wating till big roles will knock her door. And that was not happening.
Everybody ages in Hollywood. Even Johhny Depp. And comes that moment when Lead roles in big budget or Oscar roles stop coming up. Former A-lister and Oscar winners just should eat up their egos and go and audition for supporting roles or for indies.
i, for one, thought she was very pretty back in the day, but then i’ve always had a thing for long eyes with an epicanthic fold. as someone with such folds, only much less pronounced, who has just turned 45 today, i can also say they’re a bugger when things begin to sag!
renée has always seemed a bit fragile to me, so i only hope she truly is happy with the changes to her face and to her lifestyle. as is the case with so many here, i’ve always liked her and wished her well.
Happy Birthday to You!!!
I feel bad for her. This industry is so hard on women.
I don’t interpret her words to mean she thought she was thee sex symbol back in the day. I interpret her words to mean she was one of the most in-demand actresses for a time and she was. She was so wonderful in Cold Mountain, I don’t beleive that role would have ever been given to a sex symbol and she knows that too. I see this as the same problem most actresses in their 40s have to deal with – no more young roles, no more lead roles. She gets to be the mother of the lead from now on, unless some good movies come out with the lead being in their 40’s, but we all know Meryl gets all those roles.