Zellweger on 6-Year Acting Hiatus: 'Sick of My Own Voice'

Renée Zellweger is opening up about taking a six-year break from acting in the 2010s, saying that it was the sound of her voice that motivated her decision.

The actor explained her hiatus in an interview with her longtime "Bridget Jones" co-star Hugh Grant for British Vogue.

At the time of her break, Zellweger already had three Oscar nominations to her name alongside a best supporting actress win for "Cold Mountain." As Variety noted, she was one of the highest-paid female actors in the late 2000s. But none of that mattered. 

When asked by Grant why she took a break from acting between 2010 and 2016, Zellweger answered: "Because I needed to. I was sick of the sound of my own voice. When I was working, I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renée? Oh, is this your mad voice?’ It was a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences."

Instead of acting, Zellweger explored her other talents by writing music. She also "studied international law," "built a house" and "rescued a pair of older doggies, created a partnership that led to a production company, advocated for and fundraised with a sick friend, and spent a lot of time with family and godchildren and driving across the country with the dogs."

"I got healthy," she added.

Zellweger returned to Hollywood to reprise her role as Bridget Jones in 2016’s "Bridget Jones’s Baby." Three years later, she received critical acclaim for playing Judy Garland in "Judy," earning her a second Oscar and her first in the best actress category.

Asked by Grant if she ever read her movie reviews or checks the box office results for her films, Zellweger said she does not. 

"Why would I do that?" she asked Grant. "I promise you. I’ve never looked at the box office or Rotten Tomatoes."

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