Renée Zellweger has some advice for all the lovebirds out there just before Valentine’s Day.
At the New York City premiere of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Feb. 12, the Oscar winner—who has been dating Ant Anstead since 2021—shared why she thinks the holiday can be the perfect date night.
“I think if you’re together for a really long time, it’s lovely and romantic,” Renée told E! News. “And if you’re brand new [to] dating, you know, you got to get your game right.”
Renée also encouraged people to write their feelings to their partners more regularly. “But that’s, like, amateur day. You should send notes every day,” she said. “I think it’s never a bad idea to leave a sweet note.” (For more with Renée tune into E! News, tonight Feb. 13, at 11p.m)
It’s no surprise she’s in the romance headspace as she’s reprising her title role in the upcoming fourth Bridget Jones installment, which premieres on Peacock Feb. 13, one day before Valentine’s Day.
Indeed, she and Ant recently had a date night at the London premiere of her new movie in January—and they also turned it into a full family outing as his older children Amelie Anstead, 20, and Archie Anstead, 18, and his parents, Nigel Anstead and Sue Anstead, joined in to celebrate.
While Ant did not join the group on the red carpet, he was photographed with the actress at the event’s after-party.
“It was a fun night,” Renée, who has largely kept her relationship with Ant out of the spotlight, gushed about the family night. “We all had a really good time.”
And Ant clearly agreed as he praised his girlfriend after the premiere, sharing a tribute to her alongside a photo of himself and his kids at the event.
“Midweek movie night with the kiddos….” he wrote on Instagram Jan. 31. “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.”
While Renée, 55, has mostly kept her love life private, coyly made a rare reference to the 45-year-old—who is also a dad to son Hudson London Anstead, who he shares with ex-wife Christina Haack—while giving an insight into how her relationship influenced where she calls home.
“I live in Southern California, near San Diego,” she told her Bridget Jones costar Hugh Grant in a chat published in British Vogue Jan. 15. “Because that’s where my fellow lives, and his little boy.”
—Reporting by Emily Curl
Keep reading for a look back at Renée and Ant’s 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.”
