ACTRESS Renee Zellweger has recorded a duet with Sam Smith for the soundtrack to upcoming biopic “Judy.” The two unite for a track called “Get Happy,” while Zellweger also sings “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with Rufus Wainwright.

“When I was 17 years old, I did a project on Judy Garland for my Film Studies A-Level,” says Smith. “I was immediately immersed into the magic of Judy and her incredibly brave and triumphant story. She has remained as one of the icons of my life. She was one of the bravest humans out there and her vulnerability and honesty in her art still gives me goose bumps like it did the first time.”

“Judy” marks the first feature to be made about Garland, and sees Zellweger play the “Wizard of Oz” icon in her twilight years, as she arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a sold-out run. While her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown. As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians, and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of romance seem undimmed as she embarks on a courtship with Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband.

Zellweger dedicated a great deal of time to learning how to fully encapsulate the star by taking music lessons, studying choreography and reading up on the actress and singer. To capture her look, the actress spent two hours a day in a makeup chair getting prosthetics, contact lenses and wigs applied. “It was such a joy learning about the magnificence of this person,” Zellweger previously told People magazine. “I always admired her. She was so quick and so funny. She could hit the ball back with the best of them.”

The film — which also stars Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell and Michael Gambon — is directed by Tony nominee and two-time Olivier winner Rupert Goold, based on a script written by Tom Edge. BAFTA winner David Livingstone produces.

“Judy” is a Pathe, BBC Films and Ingenious Media presentation of a Calamity Films Production.

Roadside Attractions and LD Entertainment will release the film in the United States on Sept. 27 following its Toronto premiere, while Pathe will release it in Britain on Oct. 2. The soundtrack is due for a global release by Decca on Sept. 27.(SD-Agencies)