Exclusive

Renée Zellweger Reveals How She Transformed Into Judy Garland

Actress also shares her reaction to learning she would be playing the iconic character

By Mike Vulpo Sep 10, 2019 7:05 PMTags

Renée Zellweger still can't believe she is playing the Judy Garland.

As excitement continues to build for the upcoming movie release of Judy, fans are more than curious to see how the Hollywood actress will portray such a legendary performer.

Before the film is released on the big screen, Renée gave fans a taste of how she got into character while appearing at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.

"I think that the process of the wig and the music and diving deeper and deeper to try and better understand how she styled the wig or how she did her makeup or going down the rabbit hole of YouTube and fan sites," she explained exclusively to E! News' Zuri Hall. "It just became layers upon layers until suddenly we made this film."

In Judy, moviegoers go on a journey as Judy arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts. From the unforgettable hits to special costumes, fans are transformed into a special time in the performer's career.

photos
2019 Toronto International Film Festival: Star Sightings

The film will also explore the struggles Judy faced while in Hollywood. According to Renée, she was able to relate to some of the hurdles.

BBC Films

"Having lived a little bit of it, there are things that I can understand," she explained to E! News. "There are logistical experiences that are very unique with that kind of lifestyle where it's continuous and there's not a lot of time to stop and take stock."

Ultimately, Renée can't believe she has been given such a special opportunity to portray such a special star.

And for those wondering what her reaction was to first learning she was up for the roll, Renée didn't hold back.

"It was denial," she confessed. "They just said, ‘Hey! What do you think?' and I went, ‘Wow! That's crazy!'"

See the magic unfold for yourself when Judy hits theatres everywhere on September 27.