With an impressively varied career spanning more than 30 years, Renée Zellweger has proved herself one of the most important actresses across comedy, drama, musicals, period pieces, and countless other genres. A ionate and fiery performer, Zellweger’s success in the realm of comedy can sometimes outshine her truly spectacular skill as a dramatic force to be reckoned with. The recipient of two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs, and four Golden Globes, Zellweger’s career has been categorized by intense critical acclaim and enthusiastic audience reception.

Despite originally hailing from Texas, the scope and breadth of Zellweger’s success has transcended continents, and she stood as an icon of British popular culture due to her unmatched performance as the love-lost lead of the beloved Bridget Jones series. With Oscar-winning turns in Cold Mountain and Judy, Zellweger even led the Best Picture-winning musical hit Chicago. The career of Zellweger has been filled with impressive performances in compelling dramas that she balanced with hilarious turns in timeless laugh-out-loud comedies.

15 Me, Myself And Irene (2000)

As Irene

While Zellweger is most known as a dramatic actor, she has shown her comedic skills in several projects. As a testament to her skills in the genre, she was able to hold her own against one of the greatest comedic actors of all time. Me, Myself & Irene stars Jim Carrey as Charlie, a nice cop in a small town who learns that he has a personality disorder in which a more rebellious and destructive side of himself comes out. These two personalities clash while Charlie is transporting a fugitive (Zellweger) who is being hunted by the mob.

While it is far from an accurate portrait of a personality disorder, if viewers can look past that, they are in for a laugh-out-loud ride.

The movie is a hilarious road trip movie with a premise that allows Carrey to go wild with his unique brand of humor. He and Zellweger share wonderful chemistry, with Zellweger seeming to have a lot of fun playing off these two differing versions of the same man. While it is far from an accurate portrait of a personality disorder, if viewers can look past that, they are in for a laugh-out-loud ride.

14 Down With Love (2003)

As Barabra Novak

Zellweger has appeared in a number of romance movies over the course of her career, but Down with Love is one that has been sorely overlooked by the general public. The movie is set in the 1960s and stars Zellweger as an advice author who has written a book that denounces the idea that women need to find love in order to find purpose. As the book begins to start a cultural movement, a playboy journalist (Ewan McGregor) seeks to discredit the idea by having the author fall in love with him.

The movie pays homage to classic rom-coms with two people of seemingly different views on the world coming together and finding an unexpected connection. Director Peyton Reed also does a wonderful job in creating the 1960s setting for the story, immersing the audience into this slightly heightened world. Zellweger and McGregor are terrific together, delivering the screwball comedy dialogue exceptionally well.

13 Miss Potter (2006)

As Beatrix Potter

Miss Potter saw Zellweger rekindle her exceptional on-screen chemistry with Ewan McGregor again in another period romance. Miss Potter stars Zellweger as legendary children's author Beatrix Potter, the creator of iconic characters like Peter Rabbit. While the somewhat eccentric yet charming author is happy in her writing, it is not until a first-time literary agent (McGregor) takes an interest in her books that she is able to find success as well as love.

Miss Potter is a warm and charming period story about a unique artist finding acceptance in the world.

Zellweger is terrific in the lead role, bringing humor to the character as well as a sweetness to her burgeoning love story. Zellweger earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, marking one of many acclaimed movies in which she played a real person.

12 Appaloosa (2008)

As Allison French

Appaloosa is a Western based on a book and also marks one of the best movies in the genre from the 21st century. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen star in the film as two friends and gunfighters who are hired as the new law enforcement officers of a small town. As the heroic and noble pair butt heads with the corrupt and greedy rancher who has been causing trouble in the area, the situation is complicated even further when Harris forms a romantic relationship with a young widow (Zellweger).

The movie takes a clever approach to the expectations of the Western genre, crafting a surprising and constantly evolving story. Mortensen and Harris are excellent in the story that is very much an ode to the deep loyalty of friendship. Zellweger gets the standout role in the movie, also defying the kind of female character who is typically seen in Westerns. It is a complex and fascinating character with Zellweger able to ground the role while also bringing a bit of humor as well.

11 Bee Movie (2007)

As Vanessa Bloome

While Jerry Seinfeld’s animated comedy Bee Movie received mixed reviews when it was first released in 2007, this story about Barry B. Benson, the honeybee who sued the human race for honey exploitation, has gone on to become a cult classic due to its popularity as an Internet meme. The human side of Bee Movie was led by the voice of Renée Zellweger as Vanessa Bloome, the florist who befriended Benny, and in a bizarre turn of events appeared to harbor a romantic attraction to him. Bee Movie was a hilarious wild ride made even better through Seinfeld’s signature wit.

10 Empire Records (1995)

As Gina

Almost 20 years after its release, the cult classic Empire Records has quotes that live rent-free in the audience’s heads and an important addition to the music movie’s ensemble cast was Renée Zellweger as the promiscuous employee Gina. A strong performance in one of the 1990s' most iconic slacker movies, Empire Records helped launch the careers of both Zellweger and Liv Tyler. A coming-of-age story about a group of wayward employees raising money to save the record store they work at, Empire Records was full of great music, hilarious characters, and perfectly encapsulated the mood and style of its era.

9 Cinderella Man (2005)

As Mae Braddock

Renée Zellweger brought ion and pathos to her role as the struggling wife of washed-up boxer James J. Braddock in Ron Howard’s depression-era sports drama Cinderella Man. Zellweger starred opposite Russell Crowe as Mae Braddock in a performance full of sorrow as she worried for the wellbeing of her family while struggling with the threat of her husband being killed in a boxing match. Zellweger expertly portrayed the difficulties of providing for a family during this difficult period in American history and the conundrum she faced about whether to her husband's profession was the emotional core of Cinderella Man.

8 One True Thing (1998)

As Ellen Gulden

In a masterclass portrayal of inverted responsibilities, Renée Zellweger proved she could hold her own opposite screen legend Meryl Streep in the family drama One True Thing. Zellweger played Ellen Gulden, the 20-something writer who was forced to put her life on hold to care for her dying mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer. Through this, Ellen discovered the true challenges of her mother’s responsibilities, now placed on her, the infidelity of her father, and the strengths and weaknesses of both her parents. One True Thing was an effective drama that dealt with serious topics without feeling overly sentimental.

One True Thing was an effective drama that dealt with serious topics without feeling overly sentimental.

Through this, Ellen discovered the true challenges of her mother’s responsibilities, now placed on her, the infidelity of her father, and the strengths and weaknesses of both her parents. One True Thing was an effective drama that dealt with serious topics without feeling overly sentimental.

7 Nurse Betty (2000)

As Betty Sizemore

Nurse Betty was a quirky black comedy with a dark foundation as Renée Zellweger played a Kansas housewife who, after witnessing her husband’s gruesome murder, enters a fugue state and assumes the identity of a nurse from her favorite soap opera. With a strong ing cast including Morgan Freeman, Chris Rock, and Greg Kinnear, Nurse Betty was full of comedic talent and was the rare comedy that was as emotionally deep as it was laugh-out-loud hilarious. Nurse Better won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival and stood an early 2000s underappreciated comedic gem.

6 Judy (2019)

As Judy Garland

Renée Zellweger took home the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of screen legend Judy Garland in the difficult last years of her life in Judy. A transformative performance, Zellweger brought pathos and empathy to the story of the jaded musical icon as the glory days of her past were behind her and she fell ever further into addiction and family troubles. While Judy hit upon many of the same notes as other troubled stars' biopics, Zellweger played the role with such power and conviction that she brought new life to a well-worn story path.