Renée Zellweger, the star of Bridget Jones, candidly reveals the real reason behind her six-year absence from the spotlight.

Renée Zellweger's journey in the film industry has been filled with remarkable movies, yet there was a time when she vanished from Hollywood for six years, leaving fans wondering about her absence.

Zellweger, who you’ll know from the likes of Chicago and Bridget Jones’s Diary, was booked and busy for a decade, and we couldn’t get enough of her.

However, it exacted a price on the actress.

As she eagerly anticipates the upcoming release of the latest chapter in the chaotic saga of her character Jones, she reflected on the reasons behind her long hiatus from the spotlight.

Speaking to her Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy co-star Hugh Grant (aka Daniel Cleaver), she shared during an interview with British Vogue that her 2010 - 2016 break was much needed.

Zellweger remarked, “I had to do it. I grew tired of hearing my own voice. While I was acting, I found myself thinking, ‘Wow, is that really you again, Renée? Are you feeling down once more? Or is that your angry tone?’ It felt like I was just recycling the same emotional moments.”

In the same interview, the American actress openly shared her feelings for Grant, and given their friendship spanning more than two decades, it's truly touching to witness her sincerity in expressing those emotions.

Grant said to her whilst interviewing her for the Vogue article: "With a lot of other actors, you think they’re really great and then suddenly you see a little glint of steely, scary ambition and you realise this person would trample their grandmother to get what they want in this business.

"However, I've never noticed that sparkle in you before. It must either be cleverly hidden or you might actually be a genuinely nice person."

In response, the actress said, "Honestly, I find myself quite dull. On the other hand, you are incredibly intriguing, possessing an impressive array of exceptional talents. You're wonderfully witty at everything you dislike."

"Even if you have a disdain for humans, you prove to be a remarkable and steadfast companion. I hold you in high regard and truly enjoy collaborating with you."

In a later part of the interview, Zellweger shared that while she was taking a break from acting, she occupied herself with various activities.

She expressed, “I composed music and pursued studies in international law. I constructed a house, saved a couple of senior dogs, established a partnership that resulted in a production company, supported and raised funds alongside a friend battling illness, and dedicated plenty of time to my family and godchildren while traveling cross-country with the dogs. I improved my health.”

Clearly, the break did her very well as she’s since won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for the 2019 biopic Judy, where she played the late Judy Garland, and she’s just about to have her latest Bridget Jones film come to cinemas in the UK.

For those of you who can’t wait to see what she gets up to and are by now spoiled by the fact that Grant’s Cleaver isn’t dead and will be making his return, you can see it on Valentine’s Day.

Sadly, Mark Darcy is dead (Colin Firth) and now Jones has to navigate life without him to bring some sensibility to her day to day.