Renee Zellweger's '60s Flashback

Actress Stars In New Retro Romantic Comedy Movie

(CBS)  The film "Down With Love" puts a new twist on the classic 1960s Rock Hudson/Doris Day romantic comedies.

It mixed glamour, gloss and old-fashioned values, with generous helpings of sexual innuendo and double entendres.

The film stars Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor, and is faithful to the highly stylized tone of those earlier films. But for Zellweger, the major selling point was the script.

"It was such a great read," says the actress. "And I kept going back, because I'd reach a point and I'd go, 'Did I miss something?' And go back and see that it's so layered."

Zellweger says that she knew she wanted to work on "Down With Love" from the first time she read it because she knew the romantic comedy would be a delight to do.

"It's fun to have that flirtation," she says.

The film star says the movie is much more than a romantic comedy that is made for women. It called for her, the cast and crew to make a leap of faith because it is different from everything else made in Hollywood. But, she says, there was a lot of trust on the set.

Part of that trust fell on her co-star, Ewan McGregor. Zellweger says she enjoyed the experience of working with the Scot actor.

"I think he's wonderful," she explains. "We were like kids on the playground every day — just giddy and stupid. You know it was stupid. And I loved it. And I'd love to do it again.

"Never mind that he's really thoughtful and kind. And he doesn't look bad in a suit either."

The "Down With Love" production has a 1960s sensibility — from the script to the hairstyles. There is even a Tony Randall cameo — a frequent player in the Rock Hudson/Dorris Day movies.

But for Zellweger, the film's tight costumes became a bit of a pain.

"After the 18th hour and the music video, I was ready to retire the high heeled shoes," she laughs. "I was ready to say, 'You know what? They're really pretty. Gonna take them off.' But they help. And it's wonderful when you put that waist cinch on, because it adds so much to your character."

Zellweger explains that the cinch stays in place and keeps everything tucked in their proper place.

"They make you more comfortable when you're sitting there in a row at the Academy Awards all night long," she laughs again. "You're dress doesn't start doing funny things, because it's nicely in place."

Zellweger has become a well-respected movie star, and she says she likes it that way. But fame, to her, is overrated.

"The movie star stuff is not part of my experience," says Zellweger. "I learn every day how to bring it back to the real. I miss being able to gauge how I'm doing as a human being based on how people reciprocate in our exchanges. I miss that.

"I don't want you to be nice to me because of who you think I am or because I know Tom Cruise. I want to earn that."

Next up for Zellweger, the big screen adaptation of "Cold Mountain," which also stars Nicole Kidman and Jude Law. It is scheduled to open on Christmas.