Renee Zellweger praises Sir Paul McCartney for being "lovely"

Renee Zellweger has praised Sir Paul McCartney for being "lovely".

The Bridget Jones star, who was romantically linked to the former Beatle over the summer, said she enjoyed his company.

When asked by a US magazine about their supposed relationship, she reacted with surprise.

She said: "My God, that's like new news!

"But I have to say, I'm not disappointed. He's as lovely as I expected."

The Oscar-winner, 38, met Macca at a party in the Hamptons, New York, over the summer and reportedly were seen having dinner together several times afterwards.

McCartney, 65, since went on to date wealthy Manhattan socialite, Nancy Shevell.

Zellweger tells the December issue of Harper's Bazaar that she's not actively dating - and stays away from the 'scene'.

She said: "I'm not a big scene girl. I love to go to somebody's house when it gets a little bit later and there's dancing and laughter and nobody's pointing to the weird actor girl in the corner."

"If I see the scene once a year, that's more than plenty."

But the actress, who has been linked to Jim Carrey, George Clooney and was married to country star Kenny Chesney for four months in 2005, hints that there may be someone special in her life.

She said: "I'm not single, I'm busy. I'm so busy catching up with the people I miss when I'm working that I'm not busy missing someone."

She adds, "That's it. I'm not sad about it, not at all."

She also jokes that she has yet to check into rehab.

She said: "I'm very proud that I've not been to Betty Ford [for rehab] yet."