In a rare public display of support, television presenter Ant Anstead has shared a sweet tribute to his long-term partner, Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger. The 46-year-old took to his Instagram Stories to celebrate Zellweger after a statue of her iconic character, Bridget Jones, was unveiled in London this week.
A Rare Public Declaration
The British TV personality reposted a clip of the 56-year-old actress posing proudly beside the new bronze statue of her beloved film character. Anstead kept his message simple but powerful, adding just one word of text at the bottom of the post: 'Iconic.' This marks an unusual public comment from the couple, who famously keep their relationship out of the spotlight.
Zellweger cut a stylish figure at the Monday unveiling event, wearing a long black coat buttoned at the front and completing her look with a pair of elegant white heels. Her blonde hair was parted in the middle and styled in a low ponytail, with loose strands framing her face.
Bridget Jones Legacy Continues
The special event was hosted by Sally Phillips, who plays Bridget's best friend in the beloved film franchise. Zellweger was joined by her co-stars from the upcoming 2025 film Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, including Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Speaking to BBC News about the sculpture, the actress humbly remarked, 'I think she's much cuter than me.' She also reflected on why the character continues to resonate with audiences worldwide: '[It's her] vulnerability, her humanness. We recognize ourselves in her, we recognize ourselves in her struggles. It makes it OK for the rest of us to be authentically who we are. Imperfect.'
Zellweger has portrayed the beloved character across four films, beginning with Bridget Jones's Diary in 2001, followed by Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004, Bridget Jones's Baby in 2016, and the forthcoming 2025 instalment.
A Private Romance
Although Zellweger was accompanied by castmates during the festivities, Anstead was notably absent from the event. The couple first met on the set of Celebrity IOU: Joyride in 2021 and began dating that same year.
Anstead has previously explained their decision to maintain privacy about their relationship, telling People: 'Renee and my relationship is something that's really private. It's something I'm not really willing to talk too much about. It's really early in our relationship and I don't want to put any pressure on that.'
Despite their discretion, the couple did go 'Instagram official' soon after beginning their relationship when Anstead posted a black-and-white photo of them cozying up together.
The British TV presenter revealed last year that he sometimes forgets about his girlfriend's fame, explaining on the Jeremy Vine On 5 show: 'I mean, ultimately, it is microscopically examined, I'm sure, but I don't really think about that. She's so incredibly normal and I often forget that she's famous.'
In a joint interview with Hugh Grant for British Vogue earlier this year, Zellweger offered rare insight into their life together: 'I live in Southern California, near San Diego. Because that's where my fellow lives, and his little boy.' Anstead shares six-year-old son Hudson with ex-wife Christina Haack and has two older children from a previous marriage.
Anstead has frequently expressed admiration for Zellweger's talents beyond acting, telling Hello! Magazine: 'One of the many, many things that attracts me to Ren is that she's a hands-on car girl. It's really cool that we met on a car show. She welded – I mean, how cool is that?'
The couple were recently spotted sharing a passionate kiss when Zellweger supported Anstead at his soccer game, showing their relationship continues to thrive four years after it began.
