10 Movie Performances That Proved People Wrong

Hindsight is a marvellous thing, and looking back on the all-round successes that were the three Bridget Jones movies, it's incredible to think that people once scoffed at the idea of Renee Zellweger playing the titular leading role.

With the American star in the running against names like Rachel Weisz and Helena Bonham Carter, more than a few critics were baffled at the decision to opt for someone across the pond to play the stereotypical London singleton.

Rather hilariously/depressingly as the star went undercover in London as a trainee in the publicity department of a book publisher, Zellweger would regularly find herself having to cut out clippings from the media that concerned the authors that were represented by the company.

The author of the Bridget Jones series, Helen Fielding, fell into that category, so the actor routinely dissected phrases like ‘Crap American Comedian Playing English Icon’ as part of her studying for the part.

All that hard work and patience paid off by the time the first flick hit cinemas, though, as Zellweger came away with an Oscar nomination for her unquestionable brilliance in her most famous role.