Ant Anstead and Renée Zellweger Married: What We Actually Know About Their Status

The internet has a funny way of deciding people are married before they’ve even picked out a cake. If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen the whispers: Ant Anstead and Renée Zellweger married in a secret ceremony, or they’re about to elope in the English countryside. It’s the kind of rumor that sticks because, honestly, they seem like such a solid, low-drama match in a town that usually thrives on the opposite.

But let’s get the facts straight right off the bat. As of early 2026, there is no official record, marriage license, or public confirmation that Ant Anstead and Renée Zellweger are legally married.

That doesn't mean the speculation is baseless. Ant has a habit of calling Renée "the missus" on Instagram, and Renée has basically uprooted her life to be near him. When an Oscar winner moves her entire base of operations to San Diego to be close to a British car mechanic and his five-year-old son, people are going to talk.

The "Missus" Mystery and Those Premiere Band-Aids

So, why is everyone convinced they’ve already tied the knot? It mostly comes down to how Ant talks about her. He’s a guy who wears his heart on his sleeve, and he’s constantly gushing about "Ren" to anyone who will listen. In September 2025, during a trip to the U.K., he shared a post referring to her as his "missus." In British slang, that can mean wife, but it’s also frequently used for a long-term, serious girlfriend.

Then there was the whole "band-aid incident" at the London premiere of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in January 2025. Renée showed up on the red carpet with two bandages wrapped around her left ring finger.

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The tabloids went into a full-blown meltdown.

The theory? She was hiding a massive engagement ring or a new wedding band because she wasn't ready to "hard launch" the marriage yet. It’s a move straight out of the celebrity playbook, but neither of them ever confirmed it. Instead, they just kept holding hands and looking incredibly smitten at the afterparty.

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If you’d told someone five years ago that the star of Jerry Maguire would fall for the host of Wheeler Dealers, they probably would’ve laughed. It’s such a random pairing. But they met in April 2021 while filming an episode of Ant’s show, Celebrity IOU: Joyride. Renée was there to gift a car to two brothers who had cared for her late publicist.

Ant later admitted that the timing was "obscure." He was fresh off a very public divorce from HGTV star Christina Hall. Renée had been flying under the radar for a while.

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They clicked immediately.

What’s interesting is that Renée isn't just a passenger in Ant’s world. Ant has gone on record saying she’s a "hands-on car girl" who isn’t afraid to weld or get grease under her fingernails. That shared passion for building things—whether it's a vintage car or a 500-year-old farmhouse in England—seems to be the glue holding them together.

Life in San Diego and the "Cherished Relationship"

One of the biggest indicators that this is a "forever" situation is the way their lives have merged. Renée told British Vogue in 2025 that she now lives in Southern California, specifically near San Diego.

"I live in Southern California, near San Diego," she said. "Because that’s where my fellow lives, and his little boy."

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She’s talking about Hudson, Ant’s son with Christina Hall. Renée has stepped into a "stepmom" style role with Hudson, and she’s also spent significant time with Ant’s older kids, Amelie and Archie, when they visit from the U.K.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing, though. In May 2025, rumors started flying that they had split because Ant was spotted staying in a guest house in Laguna Beach. His rep had to come out and shut it down, calling the reports "disrespectful" and "misleading." The reality was much more boring: Ant was working in the U.K. on his show Born Mechanic, and Renée was in New York filming Only Murders in the Building.

What to Watch For in 2026

Are they going to get married? Most insiders think it’s a matter of "when," not "if." Ant is a self-described romantic, and he’s clearly found his person. Renée, who has been married once before (a very brief four-month stint with Kenny Chesney in 2005), seems more content than she’s ever been.

If you’re looking for signs of a wedding, keep an eye on Ant’s "Born Mechanic" project. He’s been renovating a historic farmhouse in England for his parents. There’s been talk that the property could eventually serve as the perfect backdrop for a private, low-key ceremony away from the paparazzi.

Actionable Insights for Fans

• Ignore the "Secret Wedding" clickbait: Unless you see a confirmed report from a reputable outlet like People or Hello!, take the "married" label with a grain of salt. They use the term "missus" loosely.
• Follow the projects, not just the red carpets: Their relationship is built on their work. If you want to see them together, look for updates on Ant's car builds or Renée's production schedules. They tend to support each other behind the scenes rather than doing joint interviews.
• Respect the privacy: Both have been through the ringer with public breakups. Part of why they work is because they keep the "cherished" parts of their lives off the grid.

They might not have the legal paperwork yet, but for all intents and purposes, Ant Anstead and Renée Zellweger are living the married life—just without the Hollywood circus.