The Tyranny of Tradition

Actress Renee Zellweger Performing Her Hit Song “See You In Hell” At A Benefit Last Friday Night

“I’m glad folks think I look different,” the 45-year-old Academy Award winner told People after she became a trending topic on Twitter, some blogs deemed her “unrecognizable,” and there was speculation that she underwent plastic surgery. “I’m living a different, happy, more fulfilling life, and I’m thrilled that perhaps it shows.”

The Katy, Texas, native, who picked up an Oscar for 2004’s Cold Mountain, says that her new look is due to her new life. Her last movie to hit the big screen was 2010’s My Own Love Song. But she’s been enjoying life and love, dating guitarist and producer Doyle Von Frankenstein since 2012.

Zellweger During An Exclusive Interview With People Magazine

“My friends say that I look peaceful. I am healthy,” the Bridget Jones’s Diary star said. “For a long time I wasn’t doing such a good job with that. I took on a schedule that is not realistically sustainable and didn’t allow for taking care of myself. Rather than stopping to recalibrate, I kept running until I was depleted and made bad choices about how to conceal the exhaustion. I was aware of the chaos and finally chose different things.”

Now, she’s making better choices, saying, “I did work that allows for being still, making a home, loving someone, learning new things, growing as a creative person and finally growing into myself.”

Zellweger Trying To Eat A Microphone At A Concert Last Monday

Zellweger, who was recently arrested for attacking and eating a stray dog in Central Park, was seen last Friday at a benefit to raise money for the debilitating effects of skin wrinkles on the careers of aging actresses.  Her Grim Reaper cover band “See You In Rock You To (All) Hell Let Loose” will be touring the Europe in the Spring.

“People don’t know me in my 40s,” said Zellweger. “People don’t know the new healthy me. Perhaps I look different. Who doesn’t as they get older?! Ha. But I am different. I’m happy.”