The actress says freshly unveiled Bridget Jones statue is “sweet”, adding, “She’s sweeter than me.”
Renée Zellweger has praised the freshly installed statue of Bridget Jones as “endearing”, adding, “In my opinion, she’s far more charming than me.”
Zellweger was commenting as the new statue commemorating the character she embodied for over two decades was uncovered in the iconic London square on Monday.
Bridget Jones was first imagined in 1996 by writer Helen Fielding, and first adapted for the cinema in the early 2000s. The newest movie debuted this past February.
Commenting at the reveal, Fielding left open taking her story further, stating you should “avoid closing doors.”
Zellweger explained that everyone can connect with Bridget, which explains her enduring charm.
“Her sensitivity, her humanity,” she said. “We identify in her, we relate in her struggles.
“It reassures us for the rest of us to be truly who we are. Imperfect.”
The figure of Bridget Jones went straight to many female hearts, who took comfort in her ups and downs.
From her embarrassing work incidents, to her iconic granny pants, Bridget resonated with a generation who saw themselves in her—and has recently won over a new generation of new admirers too.
The fourth film in the series, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was launched in early this year, and shows Bridget living as a solo parent and facing contemporary romance.
It received divided opinions, but secured the best theatrical launch ever for a rom-com in the UK and Ireland, according to reports.
The film was promoted as the conclusion in the series—but reflecting at the event, two superfans, Faye and Wayne, said they were sure there would be a sequel.
“There were so many things that were left unresolved at the conclusion of the last film,” said Faye.
“Her character keeps growing. I want to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the retirement home,” said Wayne.
When questioned about the possibility of a new chapter in Bridget Jones’ journey, Fielding said: “Never say never. Ideas arrive as a writer. So if a concept appeared that I thought was real and interesting and original then I would pursue it.”
A few commentators think the struggling and human heroine, who’s obsessed over her weight and romantic situation, is not the strongest role model.
And Fielding personally has acknowledged in the past that some parts of the series 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 dismissed,” she said in the past. “It was a distinct period.”
But commenting on the unveiling day, she said she aspired the broader theme of the novel would remain relevant for readers.
“In my view, to have the solace of observing a persona that you can relate to, because they are authentic and flawed and emotionally honest, it’s like having the friend you can be honest with,” she said.
The statue is the pioneering to celebrate a romantic comedy on the square’s Scenes in the Square exhibit.
The public art display originally launched in the year 2020 with the introduction of several statues including classic duos, Mary Poppins, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Don Lockwood, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean and Wonder Woman.
After that, statues of Harry Potter, the royal chair from Game of Thrones, Clifford the Big Red Dog and the explorer have been included.
