Renee Zellweger

This classy, Texas-born actress and veritable chameleon had only a handful of roles under her belt when she won the part of the plucky single mom in the smash Jerry Maguire in 1996. An overnight star, Zellweger chose her subsequent projects wisely, determined to prove that she wasn't just window dressing. She took on a variety of projects: a young writer nursing her ailing mom in One True Thing, a fugitive in love with a mentally ill man in Me, Myself & Irene (which introduced her to brief boyfriend Jim Carrey) and a critically acclaimed turn as a woman who retreats into a fantasy world in Nurse Betty. Renowned off screen for her slim figure and savvy fashion sense, Zellweger bulked up for her next role as a flabby and frazzled single gal in 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary, which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She picked up her second Oscar nod as a murderess in the musical Chicago (despite being a mediocre singer and dancer). But three times was the charm for Zellweger when she finally nabbed a statue for her portrayal of an independent 19th-century woman in Cold Mountain (she also found love for a time with costar Jack White). The versatile player continued to turn in winning performances, but in 2005 it was her turbulent love life that kept her in the spotlight. After a whirlwind romance and wedding to country sensation Kenny Chesney, Zellweger filed for an annulment after less than a year of marriage.