The actress says freshly unveiled Bridget Jones statue is “charming”, adding, “It’s more charming than me.”
The Oscar-winning actress has praised the freshly installed statue of Bridget Jones as “delightful”, explaining, “I think, it’s far more charming than me.”
Zellweger was commenting as the new statue commemorating the character she portrayed for more than 20 years was presented in the iconic London square on Monday.
Bridget Jones was introduced in the mid-1990s by writer Helen Fielding, and initially brought for the big screen in the early 2000s. The fourth film debuted in recent months.
Speaking at the unveiling, Fielding left open writing more, saying you should “never say never.”
Zellweger noted that people everywhere can see themselves in Bridget, which accounts for her huge appeal.
“Her openness, her humanness,” she said. “We see our own reflections in her, we connect in her struggles.
“It reassures us for the everyone else to be truly who we are. Real.”
The character of Bridget Jones went straight to many women’s hearts, who found solace in her trials and tribulations.
From her embarrassing work incidents, to her notorious granny pants, Bridget spoke to a demographic who saw themselves in her—and has gained a fresh wave of Gen Z followers too.
The new installment in the saga, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was launched in early this year, and depicts Bridget navigating life as a single mother and facing contemporary romance.
It earned mixed reviews, but recorded the strongest box office opening ever for a rom-com in the British Isles, according to data.
The film was billed as the final one in the franchise—but reflecting at the ceremony, two longtime enthusiasts, Faye and Wayne, said they were certain there would be a next chapter.
“There are so many things that were open-ended at the conclusion of the latest installment,” said Faye.
“Bridget keeps evolving. I want to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the retirement home,” said Wayne.
When asked about the possibility of a next installment in Bridget Jones’ story, Fielding said: “Anything is possible. Ideas arrive as a author. So if a narrative was inspired that I thought was authentic and interesting and new then I would write it.”
Some think the floundering and imperfect lead, who’s obsessed over her weight and love life, is not the ideal role model.
And Fielding personally has noted earlier that some parts of the story feel dated.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary would not be created in the present day, placed in modern times, because all those men in the office would be sacked,” she said in the past. “It was a really different time.”
But speaking on the unveiling day, she said she hoped the wider message of the novel would continue to chime for fans.
“In my view, to have the reassurance of seeing a persona that you can identify with, because they are genuine and imperfect and open, it’s like having the friend you can be real with,” she said.
The statue is the first to celebrate a love story on Leicester Square’s movie trail exhibit.
The public art exhibition originally launched in the year 2020 with the introduction of several statues showcasing classic duos, Mary Poppins, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Don Lockwood, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean and Wonder Woman.
After that, statues of the boy wizard, the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, the beloved dog and Indiana Jones have been included.
