Renee Zellweger responds to speculation, says she's happier now

Renee Zellweger has responded to speculation about her looks saying she looks different because she is healthier and happier than ever.

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE magazine, the Oscar winner said she is living a different, happy, more fulfilling life and she is happy that it is showing.

“Perhaps I look different. Who doesn’t as they get older?” she asked.

The 45-year-old received attention after an appearance at the Elle Women in Hollywoods Awards event held in Beverly Hills on Monday raised eyebrows as she was unrecognisable.

Her ‘transformed’ photo went viral on social media sites with many saying she looks scary and speculating she must have had plastic surgery.

Seriously what happened to Renée Zellweger's face? pic.twitter.com/eNzc2rv6UB
— graciaa (@graciaaaromero) October 22, 2014

Good LORD! Is that really Renée Zellweger? pic.twitter.com/5l1NBv66AG
— Janine Smith (@life_in_cmyk) October 22, 2014

is renee zellweger really renee zellweger
— maddie (@dontjudgemyocd) October 22, 2014

Renee Zellweger certainly looks like a different person,its quite scary.
— sam southwell (@samsdiary) October 22, 2014

http://t.co/sctjoRAUOI
— Jake Hensley (@jakehensley64) October 22, 2014

Goodbye to those beautiful eyes... But she told the media, she's really happy now. #ReneeZellweger pic.twitter.com/IdyK8DT8sD
— Sarah H (@Kressara) October 22, 2014

However her statement to PEOPLE did not make any mention of her going under the knife and instead said: “My friends say that I look peaceful. I am healthy.

“For a long time I wasn’t doing such a good job with that. I took on a schedule that is not realistically sustainable and didn’t allow for taking care of myself.

“Rather than stopping to recalibrate, I kept running until I was depleted and made bad choices about how to conceal the exhaustion. I was aware of the chaos and finally chose different things.

“People don’t know me in my 40s. People don’t know me [as] healthy for a while. Perhaps I look different. Who doesn’t as they get older? But I am different. I’m happy.”

Her healthier and slower-paced lifestyle is now being shared with boyfriend Doyle Bramhall and a close circle of friends.

: Actress Renee Zellweger and recording artist Doyle Bramhall II attend ELLE's 21st Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration. - Jason Merritt/Getty Images for ELLE/AFP

“I did work that allows for being still, making a home, loving someone, learning new things, growing as a creative person and finally growing into myself,” she said.