Christina Hall's Ex Ant Anstead Calls Himself "Lucky Boy" While Praising Girlfriend Renée Zellweger

Christina Hall's ex-husband Ant Anstead shared a tribute to his girlfriend Renée Zellweger while promoting Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, the fourth film in the series.

By Corinne Heller Aug 23, 2024 9:45 PM
| Updated Aug 24, 2024 3:44 AM
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Watch: Christina Hall's Ex Ant Anstead Gives Girlfriend Renée Zellweger a 'Bridget Jones' Shoutout

Ant Anstead is mad about this girl.

The British TV personality—who was married to HGTV star Christina Hall until 2021—shared a tribute to girlfriend Renée Zellweger to express his support for her fourth Bridget Jones film.

"Oh man........she's so beautiful!" Ant, 45, wrote alongside a poster image for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy on his Instagram Stories Aug. 23. "That's my Ren (lucky boy)."

Ant added a heart eyes emoji to his tribute, which comes weeks after the movie finished filming. Renée, 55, reprises her title role as British woman Bridget Jones in the film, the third sequel to the hit 2001 movie Bridget Jones. The new flick is set for release Feb. 14—Valentine's Day 2025.

And while Bridget Jones is known for her turbulent love life, the same can’t be said for Ant and Renée, who have been together for more than three years.

Ant began dating the Oscar winner in April 2021 after meeting on the set of the Discovery+ series Celebrity IOU: Joyride, which he hosted and which featured her as a guest star.

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The show debuted that August, two months after Ant and Christina, who share son Hudson, 4, finalized a divorce after two years of marriage.

While Renée does not post on social media, fans have gotten a glimpse inside their romance when Ant has occasionally shared pics of the two on his Instagram. In fact, he has called her by the nickname Ren before: In 2023, he publicly praised his girlfriend over her and C.M. Talkington's "Two Steps" music video.

Instagram

"Ren….. you are utterly brilliant!" he wrote on Instagram at the time. "A beautiful and talented genius! The most gorgeous and classy lady who continues to effortlessly tackle inspiring and cool projects in your stride! The coolest human I know."

Look back at Ant and Renée's road to romance...

February 2025: No. 1 Fan

Ant expressed his excitement over the release of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by posting a picture of him proudly holding up a "Team Jones" sign.

"It’s incredibly moving and will touch the hearts of Bridget fans deeply!" he wrote in part of his Feb. 13, 2025 message. "I am in awe of Ren and how she gives herself fully. Sit back and enjoy…… x."

January 2025: Movie Premiere

And though they didn’t pose for pictures together on the red carpet, Ant attended the premiere of Renée’s movie Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in London in January 2025. In fact, the evening was a family affair as he brought his two older children Amelie and Archie from a previous relationship (Ant also shares younger son Hudson with ex-wife Christina Haack).

“Midweek movie night with the kiddos….,” he wrote on Instagram Jan. 31, 2025. “The Movie was absolutely utterly brilliant and the lead actress was mesmerising and smoking HOT (I have a mega crush on her!) I’ve let the missus know she’s my hall pass….. X.”

And Renée had to agree it was an unforgettable evening.

"It was a fun night," the actress told E! News that February. "We all had a really good time."

November 2024: Celebrating the “Best Human” He’s Ever Met

When the trailer for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy dropped in November 2024, Ant couldn’t help but gush about Renée.

"The missus was busy being brilliant this summer….." he wrote on Instagram Nov. 12, 2024 alongside the footage, "she’s a bloomin Bridget genius!"

And Ant jokingly sent a message to Renée’s costar Leo Woodall, who plays one of her love connections in the film, by writing, "Oh And Leo… we need to quiet chat down a dark alleyway… x"

However, he wasn’t the only one giving her a round of applause. When an Instagram commenter recalled a past conversation with Renée and described it as "one of the most cherished moments," Ant replied, “I get it! she’s the best human I have ever met…..! X”

October 2023: Rare Public Sighting

The Judy star and the TV host celebrated the launch of Libby June Weintraub's book She Was Born: Words on Loss and Liberation with the author and her husband Stephen Weintraub in L.A..

April 2023: Two Years Together

Ant shared this photo of the two kissing on their second anniversary in April 2023.

April 2023: Couple's Hike

He also posted this pic of the couple walking hand in hand for the occasion.

April 2023: Making Magic

And Ant called the milestone, "Two years of magic."

January 2023: Date Night

The former Wheeler Dealers host also shared this photo of a romantic night out with the Oscar winner, writing, "Always Pause for moments of magic under twinkly lights…"

July 2022: Loved Up

"This lady," Ant wrote on Instagram in July 2022. "Pure. Class. Ren x"

July 2022: Jet-Setting Couple

The two caught a flight out of Los Angeles together.

March 2022: PDA Alert

Ant shared this animated image of the pair sharing a sizzling kiss on Instagram.

October 2021: New Orleans Trip

"WOW there is something very special about New Orleans!" he captioned this October 2021 Instagram post. "The late night wandering, the mind blowing history this nerd loves, the architecture, the blend of cultures, the food, the people, the smells and noises! All made made better by magical company to share it with..."

 

April 2021: Where It All Began

"WOW! This just popped up in memories," Ant wrote on Instagram in April 2022, alongside a pic of him and Renée on the set of Celebrity IOU: Joyride. "One year ago today! Sat on the back of a fire engine on the final day of filming having handed two amazing men a car as a thank you from Ren. Amazing what can happen in just one year..."

Following romance rumors, the two made their first public appearance (off any red carpet) the following July on the balcony of Ant's new oceanfront home in Laguna Beach, Calif.

2021: The Show That Sparked Their Love

The two started dating soon after meeting on the set of Ant's Discovery+ series Celebrity IOU: Joyride. However, they initially kept their relationship private.

"Everybody knows that Renée and I have become quite close because we kept it secret for a while and now, unfortunately, some pictures were taken and put out there," Ant told E! News in August 2021. "But it was a real pleasure to work with her. She's a super pro and she can weld." 

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