Renée Zellweger Plays Barista to Good Samaritan

Wednesday March 10, 2010 05:50 PM EST

Renée Zellweger outside Starbucks

Splash News Online, inset: WENN

She's usually the one drinking (and carrying) the coffee. But on Wednesday, Renée Zellweger was the person serving it.

The actress was preparing to leave a Santa Monica, Calif., Starbucks when a fellow coffee-drinker noticed that her parking meter was about to expire. In the nick of time, the man slipped some coins into the meter, saving the actress from a possible ticket. Her reply? Zellweger gave him a $100 Starbucks gift card – with a sweet message.

"Wow," the note read. "Thank you so much for the kindness. Warmly, with gratitude, Renée! – Brian Orloff