Renée Zellweger took a six-year break from acting to explore new interests and adopt dogs, returning to the screen in 2016.
When she finally came back, it was for the sequel “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” which hit theaters on Valentine’s Day. In this film, Bridget is navigating life as a single mom after losing her husband, Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth.
Hugh Grant also returned as Daniel Cleaver, Bridget’s old flame. To celebrate, he even interviewed her for Vogue. When he asked about her break, she said she needed it because she was tired of her own voice. She felt like she was just repeating the same emotions over and over again.
More people these days are taking career breaks to focus on their personal lives. Some travel, while others spend time with family. Gen Z, in particular, is changing the game with these gaps, often using the time to learn new skills for their future careers.
A LinkedIn survey from 2022 showed that 69% of folks who took a break felt it helped them gain perspective on what they wanted in life. For Renée, that meant diving into international law, starting her own production company, and rescuing a couple of dogs.
She shared, “I wrote music, studied international law, built a house, rescued older dogs, and spent quality time with family and friends. I got healthy.”
Her break wrapped up in 2016 when she returned for “Bridget Jones’s Baby,” where Bridget finds out she’s pregnant. At that time, she told Vanity Fair it felt right to come back after 15 years, and they had a fresh angle to explore.
