Bridget Jones star Renée Zellweger gives brutally honest answer on why she disappeared for 6 years

Renée Zellweger’s career has been a whirlwind of fantastic films, but she once took a six-year break from Hollywood and disappeared without a trace.

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.

But it came at a cost for the actress.

Bridget Jones's Diary is one of Renée Zellweger's most recognisable roles (Universal Pictures)

While she is currently enjoying the soon-to-be release of her latest instalment of the fantastic trainwreck that is her character Jones, she opened up about why she needed to take a step back for so long.

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 said: “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.”

During the same interview, the American actress told Grant exactly how she felt about him too, and considering they've known each other for over 20 years now, it’s heartwarming to see her express her feelings so honestly.

Zellweger took a much needed break for six years from 2010 (JC Olivera/Getty Images)

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.

"But I’ve never seen that glint coming off you. So either it’s very well disguised or you are quite nice.”

To which the actress responded: "I’m actually just very boring. Meanwhile you’re fascinating, with a vast hidden trove of outstanding skills. You’re hilariously brilliant at everything you hate.

"And, though you hate humans, you’re a very good and loyal friend. I like you very much. And I love working with you."

She's now back for the 4th instalment of Bridget Jones (Universal Pictures)

Later in the interview, Zellweger explained that during her time away from the screen, she had kept herself busy with a range of tasks.

She said: “I wrote music and studied international law. I built a house, 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.”

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.