Renée Zellweger pays moving tribute to Judy Garland after yet another Best Actress award win
Renée Zellweger accepts the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role award for ‘Judy’ onstage during the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Turner)
Renee Zellweger has paid tribute to Judy Garland after wining a Screen Actors Guild award for playing her in Judy.
The Bridget Jones star claimed the Best Actress honour at the SAG Awards on Sunday evening.
Renee Zellweger pays tribute to Garland’s legacy.
She said: “I’m just so grateful for the privilege of reflecting on the life of one of our own and most beloved.
“Sharing the celebration of Judy Garland’s legacy will always be one of my greatest life blessings. ”
Renee Zellweger poses in the press room with the trophy for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for “Judy” during the 26th Annual Screen RenéeGuild Awards (Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for Turner)
She added: “I feel so lucky to be a member of this family of storytellers, who get to do work that reflects the experience of being human, and fosters understanding and empathy and unity, and with some luck maybe pushes history a little bit closer to the light.
“Judy Garland, 50 years later, your community is thinking of you tonight. This is for you.”
Zellweger also picked up a Golden Globe for the role, and is nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars next month.
Why Judy Garland is a gay icon.
Zellweger has previously spoken about why Judy Garland remains a gay icon.
Speaking to PinkNews, she explained: “It’s a journey back to self and self-realisation and recognising that actually you are enough – a sentiment that in the end is shared by this group of misfits that have found each other and themselves.
“And that would be indelible, I think, in the eyes of a child who feels somewhat marginalised.”
She added: “I think she was one of the first iconic performers who was internationally celebrated who acknowledged her audience of people in the community.
“And I can imagine, at a time when you could not only live your life without being ostracised or ridiculed or worse, it was also illegal, which is hard to fathom today.
“But to have someone of her status acknowledge you publicly? That must have meant everything.”
Zellweger also spoke to PinkNews about her first time going to a gay bar, attending Pride in London and the touching moment she knew she had to be a LGBT+ ally.
“The first time I went to a gay bar? It’s happened a lot,” she laughs.
“I would’ve had to snuck out and stayed out all night, much to the chagrin of my mum who might be watching this now. Sorry mum.”
