Renee Zellweger: Where Art Thou? (Glam Slam)

Social Media is going crazy today over Renee Zellweger’s altered appearance at the ELLE Women in Hollywood event last night. She is virtually unrecognizable…”There is no way that’s Renee”….”Another bites the plastic surgery bullet. Sad doesn’t even look like her.” “Nope, doesn’t look like her AT ALL!!” Those are the types of comments that filled Access Hollywood’s Instagram page.

I admit, I didn’t recognize her when I first saw the photos either. Who’s that girl? Where did that carefree actress we fell in love with in “Jerry Maguire” go? Where is “Bridget Jones?” Where is the Academy Award-winning actress of “Cold Mountain?”

Renee Zellweger 1990, 2014 (Getty Images)

The bigger question — why do we see this over and over in Hollywood? Jennifer Grey, Meg Ryan and Lara Flynn Boyle come to mind.

Hollywood is always looking for a newer, shinier model. I am so glad I don’t have to deal with that kind of intense pressure of trying to achieve the impossible of looking forever-young.

I interviewed Renee at Sundance… waaayyyyyy back in the day… she was on the verge of breaking out in “Jerry Maguire.” We bonded over our Southern accents and giggled like schoolgirls about her getting to kiss a major star like Tom Cruise in the film. She was so fun and her happiness was infectious. That is the Renee I remember. That is the Renee who had me at “Hello.” I miss that girl. 

— Ryan Patterson