Renee Zellweger

Has winning the Oscar (for her supporting role in Chicago - Ed) changed your life or attitude in any way?
No, I don't think so. I don't think it's made me more or less confident in my abilities, because I've always believed in myself. But maybe it's made me feel a little more secure in terms of how other people view me - it's hard to say. I'm grateful for the honour, but I see it more as a recognition of my contribution to a very good film and I feel that the other women nominated were also very deserving of that kind of tribute.

I kind of feel like it's a symbol of my having reached a certain level in my profession and there's a lot of joy in being able to work with the best people in the industry. But I don't feel it's really changed the way I approach my work. I still want to stretch myself and push myself as an actor and keep finding great roles. That's what it's all about for me.

Does celebrity affect you in a positive or negative way?
I feel that people have always treated me very kindly and I've never felt really harrassed or invaded by the press. I guess I still feel so lucky and thrilled to have this kind of attention that I don't take it for granted and let myself get too annoyed by photographers or a lot of people asking for autographs.

One thing which is great about having darker hair now is that I can go into Starbucks and just pay for it and go home and nobody stops me. It's fantastic! Now I can have a real conversation with real people. I don't miss meeting people knowing who I am because I like meeting people under normal circumstances. I like to earn people's friendship. I like having a conversation where we smile, and make friends based on an organic exchange. Not because I'm a celebrity.

And it's so rare for me to meet people under normal circumstances where they don't know I am. It's funny as a brunette to meet people who don't know who I am and therefore don't care about me, as a famous person, and so I can meet a cashier in a store and if she is tired, she is just going to give me back my money and she doesn't care what type of bag I want or not. That's kind of refreshing.

Do you have any plans for Christmas?
Well, nothing for now, but for sure after doing all the press and promotion for Bridget Jones, I've promised myself I'll take a break as long as necessary.

I don't have a plan, and I don't want to take any role for a while. I just want to find myself again and just BE. Be a grown up woman with other pleasure than just working all the time. I need to find what make me happy again like time spent with my friends, my dog, and my family. Being also in the outdoors and hiking and read and write. I'd like to take at least a year off but I don't have any specific plan. I'll go back to work when the time feels right. I need to refuel and live a little bit!'