Renée Zellweger sounds like that girl at school who literally all of the boys wanted to date. She was both a cheerleader, drama club member and a gymnast, and must have had the personality to back it up, because she was also a member of the speech team. When she wasn't busy with all of that, she also played on the soccer, basketball and baseball teams. Obviously confident, and happy to be the focus of attention, she somehow didn't warm to the idea of acting until she went to university.
She actually took a B.A. in English at university, only taking drama as an elective, but it was enough to light a fire in her and persuade her to pursue the career full time. She made it onto the big screen the hard way, with her first roles being in commercials for Coors Light and a beef jerky company.