The movie industry loves a musical biopic almost as much as it loves a triumphant comeback. Renée
Zellweger’s stunning return to form is both. Zellweger reappeared on the big screen after a six-year
hiatus, which ended in 2016, and has snowballed into the bombastic, tragic, pills-booze-and-tears-
infused Judy. Her tight-lipped blend of glamorous loneliness as an addicted Judy Garland during
her bittersweet London residency in 1969, weeks before her death, was enough to earn her an Oscar
and a Golden Globe – Garland herself won the latter in 1955 for Best Actress – as well as a Bafta.
Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli, has disavowed the film, saying only, “I hope [Zellweger] had a good
time making it.” Everywhere else, however, the response has been gushing. Judy itself is based on the
West End musical End Of The Rainbow. Make your own joke about pots of gold (statuettes).The Matinée IdolRenée Zellweger
Winner Best Actress
Film JudyRenée wears PradaBAFTA 2020Story by Thomas Barrie
Photographs by Matt HolyoakFrom Judy to Joker, GQ
assembled this year’s all-star
cast for an exclusive BTS
portfolio from the 73rd EE
British Academy Film Awards04-20BAFTAs_3418656.indd 170 13/02/2020 11:39
170 GQ.CO.UK APRIL 2020