Renée Zellweger rarely puts her private life on display, but Ant Anstead’s latest family post includes several new glimpses of the actress with his youngest son.
Anstead celebrated Hudson’s 7th birthday with a collection of photographs and videos from his son’s life. Several feature Zellweger, including a clip of the Oscar winner and Hudson running barefoot along the beach at sunset, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Another photograph shows all three dressed up together, with Zellweger holding Hudson while wearing an orange lei, a small red top hat and pink rhinestone sunglasses. Anstead stands beside them in another lei while Hudson wears a decorated yellow crown.
Zellweger and Anstead marked five years together in April after meeting while filming Celebrity IOU: Joyride in 2021. Zellweger has spoken only occasionally about their home life, but she gave a direct explanation last year for living in Southern California near San Diego: “Because that’s where my fellow lives, and his little boy.”
Zellweger Appears Throughout Hudson’s Birthday Tribute
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Anstead posted the birthday collection on September 6, the day Hudson turned 7. The montage moves through different years of his childhood, with Zellweger appearing in several of the memories rather than only one group photograph.
The beach sequence shows Zellweger and Hudson running together near the water before posing on the sand.
Anstead kept his birthday message focused on his son, whom he shares with ex-wife Christina Haack. He praised Hudson’s humor, kindness and affectionate personality and wrote that watching him grow has been a privilege. Haack marked the birthday separately with her own collection of photographs and called Hudson a “kind soul.”
Zellweger has appeared in Hudson’s birthday celebrations before. When Anstead shared photographs from his son’s third birthday in 2022, he told a commenter that Zellweger had been there and had helped plan the entire party.
Hudson Wrote ‘Nay Nay’ on a Mother’s Day Card
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Anstead offered another glimpse of Zellweger’s place in Hudson’s life on Mother’s Day in May. He posted photographs of his son choosing flowers and writing cards for the women in his life, including one that began with the words “Nay Nay.”
PEOPLE reported that the card was for Zellweger, with “Nay Nay” serving as Hudson’s affectionate name for her. Anstead used the post to recognize “mums and Bonus mums” and wrote that Hudson was excited to choose the cards and flowers himself.
Haack responded in the comments by calling Hudson the “Sweetest Boy.” Anstead and Haack, who finalized their divorce in 2021, share custody of Hudson and have appeared together at some of his school and family events.
Zellweger’s connection with Hudson dates back to the early part of her relationship with Anstead. She attended a New Orleans Saints game with them in 2021 and later traveled with Anstead and Hudson to his native United Kingdom. She has also spent time with Anstead’s older children, Amelie and Archie.
Zellweger Moved Near San Diego to Be With Anstead and Hudson
Zellweger gave one of her rare direct comments about their family arrangement during a 2025 conversation with Hugh Grant for British Vogue. When Grant asked where she lived, Zellweger told him she was in Southern California near San Diego.
“Why?” Grant asked.
“Because that’s where my fellow lives,” Zellweger replied, before adding, “and his little boy.”
Anstead and Zellweger met in April 2021 when she appeared on Celebrity IOU: Joyride. Anstead helped Zellweger build custom cars for brothers Jerome and Jerald Cowan, who had cared for her late friend and publicist Nanci Ryder before Ryder’s death from ALS in 2020. Anstead and Zellweger began dating after filming and went public with the relationship later that year.
Anstead Says They Are Happy Without Rushing Into Marriage
Anstead marked their fifth anniversary in April with another rare photograph from the Celebrity IOU: Joyride set. “Happy FIVE YEAR anniversary my beautiful lady!” he wrote, calling Zellweger “The best human I know.”
He spoke again about their relationship in July, praising Zellweger’s grounded personality and recalling how her mechanical ability caught his attention when they first worked together. Anstead said she surprised him by confidently handling tools and driving a manual car during production.
The pair have not announced an engagement or wedding plans. Anstead said in the July interview that marriage remains something he believes in, but he does not see a reason to change their relationship simply to give it another title.
“I still believe in marriage, but right now we’re really happy,” he said. “We don’t need the pressure of a label.”