The actress says new Bridget Jones statue is “sweet”, noting, “She’s more charming than me.”
Renée Zellweger has praised the freshly installed statue of Bridget Jones as “delightful”, remarking, “I think, she’s much cuter than me.”
The actress was commenting as the recently revealed statue honoring the character she played for more than 20 years was presented in the iconic London square on the start of the week.
Bridget Jones was introduced in the mid-1990s by author Helen Fielding, and first adapted for the cinema in 2001. The latest installment came out earlier this year.
Speaking at the unveiling, Fielding left open writing more, saying you should “never say never.”
Zellweger explained that audiences can see themselves in Bridget, which highlights her huge appeal.
“Her sensitivity, her authenticity,” she said. “We see our own reflections in her, we recognise ourselves in her struggles.
“It reassures us for the others to be truly who we are. Real.”
The figure of Bridget Jones resonated deeply with many female hearts, who felt understood in her trials and tribulations.
From her awkward work incidents, to her notorious granny pants, Bridget spoke to a demographic who identified in her—and has attracted a whole new set of younger fans too.
The new installment in the series, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was launched in February, and sees Bridget living as a single mother and exploring contemporary romance.
It earned varied critiques, but achieved the best theatrical launch ever for a love story in the region, according to reports.
The film was described as the conclusion in the franchise—but reflecting at the statue unveiling, two superfans, Faye and Wayne, said they were convinced there would be a sequel.
“There were so many things that were left unresolved at the finale of the recent movie,” said Faye.
“Her character keeps growing. I’d love to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the retirement home,” added Wayne.
When asked about the possibility of a future story in Bridget Jones’ saga, Fielding said: “Anything is possible. Stories arrive as a writer. So if a narrative was inspired that I thought was authentic and interesting and fresh then I would develop it.”
Certain critics think the struggling and imperfect protagonist, who’s fixated with her appearance and romantic situation, is not the best inspiration.
And Fielding personally has acknowledged in the past that some parts of the series seem less relevant today.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary would not be created now, written in this era, because all those men in the office would be sacked,” she said in the past. “That was a really different time.”
But reflecting on the unveiling day, she said she wished the wider message of the novel would continue to chime for fans.
“Personally, to have the comfort of observing a persona that you can identify with, because they are real and imperfect and vulnerable, it’s like having the companion you can be true with,” she said.
The monument is the inaugural to honor a rom com on the square’s public art walk.
The public art display originally launched in the year 2020 with the addition of eight sculptures showcasing Laurel and Hardy, Mary Poppins, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Don Lockwood, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean and Wonder Woman.
In the time since, statues of Harry Potter, the iconic seat from Game of Thrones, the giant canine and the explorer have been added.
