Renée Zellweger inChicago(2002).Photo: Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection
Given herOscar-nominated performance inChicago, fans would likely never suspectRenée Zellwegerhad any insecurities about playing murderess-turned-famous-showgirl Roxie Hart.
But in a new interview surrounding themusicalfilm’s 20th anniversary, director Rob Marshall toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat initially, Zellweger “was very afraid to sing” for him.
“We went to dinner, and I said to her, ‘Do you know any songs?’ " Marshall, 62, recalled with a laugh. “And she started singing ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’ for me in the restaurant becauseshe was so shy about singingformally. I could tell immediately she could sing.”
Zellweger, 53, was “exactly the actor” Marshall “was looking for,” as his goal was “to find a vulnerable Roxie,someone who could play the fragile partof her, but then also be a good enough actress to turn the tables and become the strong killer that she becomes, and it needed that full range.”
“I’d found out that Renée had been a cheerleader in school, so I thought maybe she could dance,” he toldTHR. “She came to New York, and [choreography supervisor] John DeLuca and I worked with her on dancing and could see right away that she could move.”
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Marshall also revealed that there “had been talk” over the years about who they might want to appear in the film, includingMadonna,Goldie Hawn,John TravoltaandLiza Minnelli.
According to the director,Catherine Zeta-Jones, who starred inChicagoas Roxie’s fellow murderess and nemesis-turned-collaborator Velma Kelly, “was the easiest to cast because she had very clear musical chops, having played in West End musicals.”
“Richard Gerehad doneGreaseand played Danny Zuko, so I knew he had musical talent,” Marshall added of the actor who would go on to play silver-tongued attorney Billy Flynn.
And while he also spoke toKevin KlineandKevin Spaceyabout the role, “It was very clear to me that Richard was the one,” Marshall said.
“In a perfect world, you don’t even have to make a decision about actors,” he added. “The actor themselves, if they’re right for the role, they claim it as theirs, and that’s what Richard Gere did.”
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger inChicago(2002).Mary Evans/MIRAMAX/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection
Chicagoearned 13 nominations at the75th Academy Awards, including winsfor Best Picture, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Sound and Best Supporting Actress for Zeta-Jones.
BothJohn C. ReillyandQueen Latifahwere also nominated in the Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress categories for their roles as Amos Hart and Matron “Mama” Morton, respectively.
source: people.com
