Renée Zellweger will go anywhere for love.
The two-time Oscar winner offered a rare glimpse into her relationship with Ant Anstead, sharing that she planted roots outside of Hollywood to stay close to the Wheeler Dealers host and his family.
“I live in Southern California, near San Diego,” she told her Bridget Jones’s Diary costar Hugh Grant in an interview published in British Vogue Jan. 15. “Because that’s where my fellow lives, and his little boy.”
Ant, 45, and Renée, 55, met in 2021 while filming Ant’s Discovery+ series, Celebrity IOU: Joyride, and began dating shortly thereafter. At the time, the TV host had freshly settled his divorce with Christina Haack—with whom he shares 5-year-old son Hudson—and was looking forward to starting fresh. (Ant also shares daughter Amelie, 21, and son Archie, 18, with ex-wife Louise Anstead.)
“There's a choice that we all make,” he told E! News at the time regarding his split. "You either dwell in it or you look forward and I'm a forward-facing positive person. I've got so many great things on the horizon.”
And as his romance with the Chicago actress—who was briefly married to country singer Kenny Chesney in 2005—blossomed, Ant reflected on the unlikely impact of their small-screen collaboration that led to their romance.
“I'm really grateful to the show,” he told People in September 2021, “because these amazing things happen in your world and sometimes when things collide, they collide at the most obscure times when you least expect them. And that's what happened in this case.”
While the pair have largely kept their romance private, they’ve shown support for each other’s professional endeavors. In fact, Ant recently gushed over Renée’s latest project while also pointing out his own good fortune.
“Oh man........she's so beautiful!” he wrote on Instagram alongside a promotional poster for Renée’s upcoming romantic comedy Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in August. “That's my Ren (lucky boy).”
For a closer look at Renée and Ant’s romance, keep reading.
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."