The actress says new Bridget Jones statue is “charming”, stating, “It’s cuter than me.”
The Oscar-winning actress has called the new statue of Bridget Jones as “adorable”, explaining, “I think, she’s much cuter than me.”
Zellweger was speaking as the recently revealed statue celebrating the beloved figure she embodied for over two decades was uncovered in the heart of the city on Monday.
Bridget Jones was created in 1996 by writer Helen Fielding, and originally translated for the cinema in 2001. The newest movie came out in recent months.
Commenting at the reveal, Fielding did not dismiss writing more, saying you should “always keep options open.”
The star noted that audiences can relate to Bridget, which highlights her enduring charm.
“It’s her vulnerability, her humanity,” she said. “We recognise ourselves in her, we connect in her struggles.
“It makes it OK for the rest of us to be authentically who we are. Real.”
The figure of Bridget Jones went straight to many women’s hearts, who took comfort in her personal journey.
From her humorous work blunders, to her notorious granny pants, Bridget spoke to a generation who saw themselves in her—and has gained a fresh wave of new admirers too.
The fourth film in the series, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was debuted in early this year, and shows Bridget portrayed as a widowed mom and facing contemporary romance.
It garnered mixed reviews, but recorded the best box office opening ever for a love story in the region, according to data.
The film was described as the conclusion in the saga—but commenting at the event, two superfans, Faye and Wayne, said they were sure there would be a next chapter.
“There are so many things that were not wrapped up at the conclusion of the latest installment,” said Faye.
“Bridget keeps changing. I’d love to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the later years,” remarked Wayne.
When prompted about the prospect of a future story in Bridget Jones’ journey, Fielding said: “The door is open. Stories arrive as a author. So if a concept was inspired that I thought was real and compelling and new then I would write it.”
A few commentators think the imperfect and human heroine, who’s preoccupied by her body image and love life, is not the ideal example.
And Fielding personally has noted earlier that some parts of the story feel dated.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary couldn’t be written in the present day, placed in modern times, because all those men in the office would be fired,” she said in the past. “That was a completely other era.”
But reflecting on Monday, she said she hoped the broader theme of the story would still resonate for audiences.
“Personally, to have the comfort of watching a figure that you can identify with, because they are authentic and flawed and emotionally honest, it’s like having the friend you can be real with,” she said.
The statue is the inaugural to celebrate a love story on the landmark’s movie trail walk.
The cinema sculpture trail first debuted in 2020 with the addition of multiple figures showcasing Laurel and Hardy, Mary Poppins, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Don Lockwood, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean and Wonder Woman.
Since then, figures of Harry Potter, the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Indiana Jones have been installed.
