It's no surprise that Hollywood is unfair to older female celebrities. However, the public's negative response and ensuing arguments may catch some off guard.
The Oscar-winning actress Renée Zellweger faced this issue because she appeared on the red carpet.
The internet became very agitated due to the speculation that Renée Zellweger had undergone plastic surgery. Many people were upset that her appearance had changed and she no longer resembled the cherished character of Bridget Jones. What specifically caused the change in the actress's face?
Who Is Renée Zellweger?
To begin, let's learn about Zellweger's career path. Renée Kathleen Zellweger, a Texan native, began acting at 23 with roles in small films. Despite receiving positive reviews, her breakthrough came with her performance in Jerry Maguire.
Tom Cruise and Zellweger both delivered remarkable performances in the classic film. Zellweger's role in Bridget Jones's Diary established her as an iconic figure in the romantic comedy genre. She won a Golden Globe for her performance in Nurse Betty, released in 2000.
The actress from Chicago had a successful career for several years, including winning an Academy Award for her performance in Cold Mountain. However, her box office earnings declined, and in 2010, she chose to leave the entertainment industry.
In a statement to People magazine, she explained her decision by stating that instead of taking a break to recover, she continued to push herself until she reached a point of exhaustion. She then made poor choices to hide her fatigue. Eventually, she became aware of the chaos and decided to change her life.
Despite the hiatus, the Oscar-winning actress returned in 2016 for the third and final installment of the Bridget Jones franchise. She later portrayed Judy Garland in a biopic named Judy, which earned her another Best Actress Oscar.
When Did Renée Zellweger’s Plastic Surgery Rumours Start?
During her hiatus, the star of Case 39 attended the 2014 Elle Women in Hollywood Awards. She was 45 years old at that time, and her last public appearance was when she was 41. However, some believed she had undergone plastic surgery during the four-year gap.
Zellweger's change in appearance caused a lot of discussion, even among major publications. She faced harsh criticism and was called many names, with people questioning why she would ever alter her face like that. Despite the overwhelming scrutiny, Renée displayed admirable courage and didn't let it get to her.
In 2014, the celebrity talked to People magazine and expressed her happiness that people thought she looked different. She explained that she was happier and more fulfilled, possibly contributing to her changed appearance. She dismissed the discussion around her face as "silly" and pointed out that people naturally look different as they age. She also mentioned that she had not been known for her health in a while, but now she felt different and happy.
There is something important to know: people had made fun of Renee Zellweger for many years, even before her 2014 headlines, because of her squinted eyes and pout.
After 2014, people frequently discussed Renée Zellweger's plastic surgery as if she had betrayed them. In truth, regardless of whether she had plastic surgery or not, people always had something to say about her appearance.
What Surgeries Was Renée Zellweger Rumoured To Have Had?
There is a list of surgeries that Renée was rumored to have undergone:
Eyelid Surgery
Almost everyone commented that the actress had different-looking eyes. Due to her genetics, she naturally has hooded eyes, which means her upper eyelids lack a crease.
After she showed up at the awards ceremony, many people believed that she had undergone eyelid surgery, which involved removing extra skin and fat from the upper eyelids. This is why her eyes appeared larger and more concave.
In 2016, Zellweger wrote an op-ed for Huffington Post addressing rumors about getting eye surgery. She mentioned that while the specific tabloid story about her surgery wasn't important, it led to her being featured in news stories about societal pressure for women to look a certain way and the importance of self-acceptance.
Brow Lift
It has been rumored that, in addition to undergoing eyelid surgery, the Chicago star may have also had a brow lift, as her brow ends appear higher. However, these rumors were already circulating about her even before her 2014 appearance.
With an eyebrow lift procedure, you can lift drooping eyebrows that can occur with age. It also tightens the forehead skin to create a smoother appearance and reduce wrinkles and fine lines.
Fillers
People have been teasing Zellweger about her cheeks for a while, likening them to those of a chipmunk. Though they usually attribute it to her genetics, this time, they suggest she had fillers, which technically do not count as plastic surgery. There were speculations that she had undergone cheek implants or fat grafting procedures. Additionally, it was rumored that she altered the shape of her jawline by using fillers.
Botox
Botox works because it blocks the nerve signals that make the muscles contract. There were rumors that the Golden Globe winner received Botox to get rid of the wrinkles on her forehead, but no evidence supports this claim.
How Did Renée Zellweger Respond To The Plastic Surgery Rumours?
The actress stated in a People's magazine interview that changes in her lifestyle resulted in a difference in her appearance. She clarified that these changes were meant to promote her overall health. Nevertheless, in 2016, she released an open letter titled "We Can Do Better" to confront the issue of bullying that she had experienced.
The woman stated that she did not undergo eye surgery despite rumors. She also highlighted the unfair expectations placed on women's appearance, stating that their worth is often judged in this manner.
The message can harm younger people and those who are easily influenced. It may lead to problems related to fitting in, discrimination, fairness, accepting oneself, harassment, and well-being.
In 2019, she spoke with Vulture about the ongoing rumors of her plastic surgery and expressed sadness. She also shared an incident where some train passengers discussed her appearance and called her "stupid" for getting surgery, which was difficult for her to hear.
What Made Renée Zellweger’s Face Look Different?
It appears that Renée Zellweger's physical transformations can be attributed to natural aging and weight loss rather than having undergone plastic surgery.
When people think of the actress, they often associate her with the character Bridget Jones who she played at 32. However, what people tend to overlook is that she gained 30 pounds for both the original movie and its sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
According to Zellweger, she appeared different because she had not been seen in public for some time and had prioritized her health. Although she had made positive changes during her break, the public still perceived her as the same Bridget. Her transformed appearance, therefore, surprised many fans.
It is important to note that Renée has naturally hooded eyes and, like every living being, is also undergoing the natural aging process. These age-related skin changes might have caused her eyes to appear different.
Excess fat on the top of the eyes can cause a "hooded" appearance. As people age, this fat may decrease, resulting in a "sunken" appearance and potentially slightly larger eyes. Some people believe a woman's eyes look different because she underwent blepharoplasty, which involves removing excess skin from the upper eyelids.
As far as her eyebrows are concerned, they’re not much different than they used to be. Maybe the actress was trying out different eyebrow styles, or maybe it was her makeup. Because looking at her before and after photos, you can only say that the actress is aging gracefully.
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