WHEELER Dealers star Ant Anstead has admitted he’s a Bridget Jones fan in a VERY rare comment about his girlfriend Renée Zellweger.
While Ant, 45, began dating actress Reneé, 55, in 2021, the pair have remained rather tight-lipped about their romance.
But that changed on today’s Jeremy Vine on 5 when the motor specialist was asked by stand-in host Vanessa Feltz about his other half.
While he was there to promote his new discovery+ show, Born Mechanic, the broadcaster couldn’t resist slipping in a question about whether Oscar winner Renée could make an appearance.
She said: “Everybody knows that you’re in this relationship with the beloved, and she really is adored in this country, Renée Zellweger.
“Did you ask her to join you? She could have done a bit of light welding or pumped up a few tres or something.”
Speaking video video link in Los Angeles, he replied: “I met Renée on a show I host out here in on Discovery Channel. She was an episode one, blimey, four years ago now.”
Going on to jokingly thank the network for their “dating services”, he continued: “But unfortunately, while I was filming through the summer, she was also busy, so it didn’t work out.”
Vanessa probed: “I think we’ve got some very vague idea of what she might have been busy doing. I mean, the whole country’s waiting with bated breath for Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.
“And we’re hoping, of course, that she will fly over for the premiere and that you’ll come with her, will you?”
Ant responded: “I know that that the premiere’s due to be, I believe, February Valentine’s Day, actually, so I’m sure there’ll be some plans missing UK travel then. But nothing’s confirmed.”
Ant, who was a 22-year-old police constable when Renée starred in Bridget Jones’s Diary all the way back in 2001, was then asked if he’s a fan of the franchise.
He joked: “Blimey, that feels like a trap. I feel like the entire nation is a Bridget Jones fan.
“It’s a duty of us for us Brits to be a Bridget Jones fan, so yes. I mean, it’s not by any mistake that the movie it on its fourth movie, you know, great movies return and it’s a great movie.”
Vanessa then enquired whether it feels “weird” to be in a relationship that is “so minutely gazed upon by total strangers”.
After some thought, Ant answered: “I don’t give it any time. I mean, ultimately, it is microscopically examined, I’m sure, but I don’t really think about that. She’s so incredibly normal and I often forget that she’s famous.”
Ant and Renee’s Romance
Ant and Reneé have been dating since 2021, when they met on the set of Discovery+ series, Celebrity IOU Joyride.
The series sees celebrities celebrate deserving people in their lives with refurbished cars.
Reneé gave a car to twin brothers Jerome and Jerald, who had looked after her friend and former publicist Nanci Ryder after she was diagnosed with ALS.
Ant later teased the romance by telling People: “I’m really grateful to the show 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.”
The couple went public with their relationship that July, but have largely kept their romance out of the spotlight.
However, both have been seen supporting each other’s projects, and sometimes give rare glimpses into their life online.
Ant is a father of three children from his previous marriages, Archie, Amelie and Hudson, and often shares pictures of them on his Instagram account.
He’s teased his toddler son, Hudson, calls her ‘NayNay’, and she celebrates holidays with the family.
In 2023, he shared a picture of Reneé with teens Archie and Amelie as they attended a ball together.
Despite the strength of their romance, they are not believed to be engaged.
Renee Zellweger's career so far
By Conor O’Brien
Across her three-decade career, Renee Zellweger has won such accolades as two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.
Here is a look at some of her most memorable roles
- The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995, “Jenny”): The fourth installment in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, this slasher film marked Renee’s first starring role.
- Jerry Maguire (1996, “Dorothy Boyd”): Renee starred opposite Tom Cruise in this classic sports-comedy drama.
- Nurse Betty (2000, “Betty Sizemore”): For her portrayal of the title character, Renee received a Golden Globe.
- Bridget Jones franchise (2001 – present, “Bridget Jones”): The actress adopts an English accent to play the title character in this franchise. The fourth instalment, titled Bridget Jones: Mad About A Boy is due to be released in February 2025.
- Cold Mountain (2003, “Ruby”): Renee starred opposite Jude Law and Nicole Kidman in this period war drama film. She received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
- Judy (2019, “Judy Garland”): In this biographical drama, Renee portrayed the legendary actress Judy Garland, most notably known for the Wizard of Oz. She received her second Academy Award for her work in this film.
