Renee Zellweger returned to Hollywood because she "craved the creative process".
The 47-year-old actress took some time away from the film industry in 2010 because she felt making films had become "more depleting than rewarding".
She said: "I craved the creative process again. When I stopped making films, it was because it became more depleting than rewarding. It was because of the way I was living my life, and I don't think you can be good in a creative medium if you aren't grateful for the opportunity to participate."
During her time off, Renee went travelling and says it helped her "understand" herself.
She added: "I planned to take some time off after 'Chicago', but there kept being once-in-a-lifetime experiences in front of me that I didn't want to miss out on.
"Then I learned you can't keep doing that forever, so I chose to see what would happen if I did let that once-in-lifetime experience that was ahead of me go and just be still and see what I could build. I think traveling off the beaten path is a good idea for anybody because it's essential for understanding not just the rest of the world, but yourself."
And the blonde beauty is now reprising her role as the infamous Bridget Jones in 'Bridget Jones' Baby' and was glad she found an "excellent excuse" to go back.
She told American Way magazine: "There's this great reunion waiting in London with this character I love and all my friends who I've adored for years. It was an excellent excuse to go back."
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