Technically, Ant Anstead and Renée Zellweger don’t owe anyone a glimpse into their personal romance. Still, Ant feels like he owes a thank-you to someone for bringing them together on the set of Celebrity IOU Joyride back in 2021. “It’s funny because the show is called IOU, and it’s actually Discovery+, it’s ‘I owe you.’ Thank you,” Ant joked to Extra in August 2021. “Thank you for your dating services. You can now remove me from your database. I can recommend you to all my single friends.” It certainly seems that he and Renée have been hitting it off ever since. “Renée’s really lovely and it’s really nice,” he added. “It’s kind of amazing.”

During the show—where celebrities give back to those who made a difference in their lives by restoring special cars—Renée teamed up with Ant and his cohost Cristy Lee to refurbish a Ford Bronco and an Oldsmobile 442 Convertible for Jerome and Jerald Cowan. These brothers cared for her dear friend and publicist Nanci Ryder during her battle with ALS before her passing in 2020. Renée believes it wouldn’t be surprising if Nanci played a part in her love story with Ant, smiling as she told Harper’s Bazaar in March 2022, “She’s always doing her best. It made me smile to think on this, yeah, the serendipity of it all.”

Working alongside Renée, Ant quickly picked up on some fun facts—like discovering that Renée’s iconic British accent as Bridget Jones wasn’t real. “Are you telling me that Bridget Jones’s Renée Zellweger isn’t British?” he exclaimed to Cristy during filming. “You’re like a dream crusher for me.” Beyond being impressed by her acting skills, Ant admired her enthusiasm for the hands-on work. “We’ve got a twice Oscar winner not only crawling on her back underneath a Bronco, she’s got rust in her face, she jumped on the tool, she climbed in and out of both cars,” he said. “I’d give her a job.” Instead, he gave her his heart. Although their connection began on camera, Ant and Renée have kept most of their relationship private. “She’s a very private person,” he shared with Entertainment Tonight in August 2021, “and that’s really what I love about her.”

Ant’s desire for privacy might stem from the very public breakup he experienced with ex-wife Christina Haack. After less than two years of marriage, they separated in 2020, and a tense custody battle over their son Hudson followed. Eventually, the two reached a joint custody agreement and found a way to move forward positively. Christina even recalled during a February episode of her show how, after her split with Josh Hall, Ant embraced her warmly when she came to pick up Hudson, marking a turning point in their co-parenting journey. “It was a very nice moment,” she said, emphasizing how they decided to put their differences aside for the sake of their son, much like her relationship with her first ex-husband, Tarek El Moussa.

Today, Christina—who is dating Christopher Larocca—appears genuinely supportive of Ant’s happiness with Renée. She even liked an Instagram post where Ant praised Renée’s performance in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. And Ant’s admiration for Renée couldn’t be clearer. In January, he proudly shared photos from the movie’s premiere in London, writing, “The Movie was absolutely utterly brilliant, and the lead actress was mesmerizing and smoking HOT (I have a mega crush on her!). I’ve let the missus know she’s my hall pass….. X.”

Although Ant only shares glimpses of their life together, it’s clear their bond runs deep. Renée herself doesn’t believe romantic gestures should be limited to special occasions. Speaking to E! in February, she said, “That’s, like, amateur day. You should send notes every day. I think it’s never a bad idea to leave a sweet note.” As Ant and Renée approach their fourth year together, they’re still going strong while living in Southern California. When asked why she chose to settle there, Renée sweetly told Hugh Grant during a January chat for British Vogue, “Because that’s where my fellow lives, and his little boy.”

In celebration of Renée’s 56th birthday on April 25, Ant’s affection was evident once again. Back in February, he posted a photo proudly holding a “Team Jones” sign at the premiere, writing, “It’s incredibly moving and will touch the hearts of Bridget fans deeply! I am in awe of Ren and how she gives herself fully. Sit back and enjoy…… x.”

While the two didn’t pose together on the red carpet, Ant attended the London premiere with his older children, Amelie and Archie, from his first marriage to Louise Storey. He shared photos of their “midweek movie night,” praising Renée’s performance as “mesmerising and smoking HOT.” Renée, too, remembered it fondly, telling E! News, “It was a fun night. We all had a really good time.”

Even months earlier, in November 2024, Ant had expressed pride when the trailer for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy dropped, gushing on Instagram, “The missus was busy being brilliant this summer… she’s a bloomin Bridget genius!” He even jokingly warned her costar Leo Woodall, “Oh and Leo… we need a quiet chat down a dark alleyway… x.” When a fan commented on Instagram about a cherished memory of meeting Renée, Ant sweetly replied, “I get it! she’s the best human I have ever met…..! X.”

Their relationship has been filled with heartfelt milestones. In October 2023, they were spotted together at the launch of Libby June Weintraub’s book in Los Angeles. In April 2023, Ant celebrated their second anniversary by posting a picture of them kissing, captioning it, “Two years of magic.” He also shared a snapshot of a hand-in-hand hike, and a cozy date night photo, writing, “Always pause for moments of magic under twinkly lights…”

Their adventures have taken them all over—from catching flights in July 2022 to sweetly stealing kisses, as Ant showed with a playful GIF on Instagram in March 2022. Whether it was their trip to New Orleans in 2021, where Ant raved about the city’s history and culture, or reminiscing about their first meeting during Celebrity IOU Joyride, it’s clear that their journey together has been filled with special memories.

Ant once reflected in April 2022, “Amazing what can happen in just one year…” Indeed, from a chance meeting on set to building a life together, Ant and Renée’s story continues to charm those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of it.