Renee Zellweger's Strip Club Past Exposed: 'Did I feel sorry for myself? Never!'

Renee Zellweger says she worked at a strip club in her late teens, but only to put herself through college.

The star of the upcoming Judy Garland biopic, Judy, told AARP the Magazine she has no regrets about her time waitressing at “Sugar’s” in Austin while attending the University of Texas to help pay the bills.

“Did I feel sorry for myself? Never,” Zellweger, 50, said. “Financing my own way through college was a defining marker for me.”

The Oscar winner was always clothed during her shifts, but admits she was still able to get some nice tips from loyal patrons.

“One gentleman would tip me $100 every time he came in because I think he felt sorry for me,” she confessed. “He saw me as a poor student.”

The bar’s manager previously admitted she was offered the chance to go topless, but she declined.

“There are certain things about myself that I know to be sure and taking my clothes off and dancing or doing things that I felt were compromising my convictions, that's not an option,” she told 60 Minutes in 2003.

Since her strip club days, Zellweger has become a Hollywood star. But lately, the Chicago actress has been practically unrecognizable, after rumors of rampant cosmetic surgeries.

“Renée may have had a face and neck lift to give her this new look," said NYC-based plastic surgeon Dr. Norman Rowe, who hasn't treated Zellweger. "These procedures, especially the facelift, can dramatically change the appearance of a person.

“She has also had fillers injected into her cheeks and lips to fill them out and offset the droop, which is caused by the natural aging process."

In the past, Zellweger has claimed make-up that was responsible for her altered appearance, and that she's never had surgery.

She says her experience in the strip club was an eye opener in one respect however – how to treat fellow servers.

“Now I overtip,” she said. “I know the difference I can make in someone’s day.”