Reneé Zellweger; Ant Anstead.Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty; Can Nguyen/Shutterstock
New coupleAnt Anstead and Renée Zellwegermay be close now, but theWheeler Dealers star had a lot to learn about the Oscar winnerwhen they first met— including the fact that, unlike him, she’s not British!
But before the trio got down to business, Lee filled Anstead in on their famous guest.
“Did you know that during the filming ofBridget Jones’s Diary, Renee spoke with a British accent even when she wasn’t on set?” Lee told Anstead. “In fact, she kept it up until the wrap party!”
Renee Zellweger, Ant Anstead and Cristy Lee on Celebrity IOU: Joyride.Discovery+
“Are you telling me that Bridget Jones — Renee Zellweger — isn’t British?” he asked, to which Lee replied that the actress is actually from Texas.
“You’re like a dream crusher for me,” Anstead jokingly told her.
Ant Anstead/Instagram
It turned out Zellweger being American wasn’t a total dealbreaker for Anstead, as PEOPLE confirmed that he and theJudystar had begun dating in June, after instantly clicking on the show.
An entertainment source told PEOPLEthat despite being an unlikely duo, the two-timeAcademy Awardwinner and the master mechanic bonded over their common interests.
“Sometimes two people just meet and click, and the timing is right,” the source said. “Renée is creative…and often goes for guys who think out of the box. She’s smart, thoughtful and always looking to expand horizons and nurture those around her.”
Ant Anstead and Renée Zellweger (R) pictured with guests Lydia and Doug McLaughlin.
The couplemade their first public appearance togetherat a gala event for Radford Motors in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 7.
“They are getting pretty serious about each other,” a source close to the couple told PEOPLE earlier this month. “They’re both busy with various projects and their careers, but they have a major attraction to each other.”
RELATED VIDEO: Renee Zellweger Banters With Now-Boyfriend Ant Anstead in Premiere of His New Show,Celebrity IOU: Joyride
Zellweger has also gotten to know Anstead’s almost-two-year-old son, Hudson, whom he shares with ex-wifeChristina Haack.
“They do beach outings, go for ice cream and other child-friendly activities,” another source told PEOPLE. “They’re spending most of their time together in Laguna Beach since Ant lives there, and they seem very happy.”
Ant Anstead/ instagram
News of their romance came days after Anstead finalized his divorce from Haack, 38, whom he was married to for less than two years. Haack has sinceconfirmed her new relationshipwith Austin-based realtor Joshua Hall.
Celebrity IOU: Joyridebegan streaming onDiscovery+on Monday, August 23. New episodes will drop on Mondays.
source: people.com
