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 It marked the second Oscar victory in four nominations for
Zellweger, 50, a Texas-born performer whose immersion in the
role of Garland also earned Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild
and BAFTA awards.
Taking the stage to accept her award, Zellweger saluted her
fellow nominees in the best actress race - Cynthia Erivo for
"Harriet," Scarlett Johansson for "Marriage Story," Charlize
Theron for "Bombshell," and Saoirse Ronan for "Little Women."
"I have to say it is an honor to be considered in your company,"
Zellweger said.
She then paid tribute to Garland's "legacy of unique
exceptionalism and inclusivity and generosity of spirit."
"Ms. Garland you are certainly among the heroes who unite and
define us, and this is certainly for you," she added. "I am so
grateful. Thank you so much, everybody."
Admittedly intimidated at the notion of playing one of America's
most iconic show business figures 50 years after her death,
Zellweger embarked on extensive preparations to transform
herself for the role.
She took voice lessons for a year and worked with a
choreographer to capture Garland's mannerisms. The movie focuses
on a period when "The Wizard of Oz" star struggled with
substance abuse, depression, insomnia, financial instability and
a custody battle.
Garland arrived in London in late 1968 as part of a sold-out
concert tour meant to help regain her economic footing. She died
there at age 47 of an accidental drug overdose in June 1969,
three months after her fifth marriage.
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Zellweger's co-stars recalled being awestruck by her on-set
metamorphosis for the role, while critics marveled at how she
convincingly rendered the essence of Garland's persona and
performance style without lapsing into mere impersonation.
Her "Judy" performance was a far cry from the scrappy, plain-spoken
farmhand she played in the epic U.S. Civil War romance "Cold
Mountain," a role that earned her an Academy Award for best
supporting actress in 2004.
Her turn in "Cold Mountain" followed back-to-back Oscar nominations
for her performance as Roxie Hart in the big-screen adaptation of
musical "Chicago" and her title role as the British singleton in the
romantic comedy "Bridget Jones's Diary."
A native of Texas, Zellweger got her start in several low-budget
movies leading to a star turn in 1994 horror film "Texas Chainsaw
Massacre: The Next Generation."
Her big breakthrough came in the role of the single mom who becomes
the love interest of the struggling sports agent played by Tom
Cruise in comedy "Jerry Maguire." Other credits include "One True
Thing," "Me, Myself & Irene," and the dark comedy "Nurse Betty."
(Reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Sandra
Maler)
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