The actress says freshly unveiled Bridget Jones statue is “charming”, stating, “She’s more charming than me.”
The Oscar-winning actress has described the freshly installed statue of Bridget Jones as “adorable”, explaining, “In my opinion, she’s much cuter than me.”
The actress was talking as the recently revealed statue commemorating the beloved figure she portrayed for many years was uncovered in the iconic London square on Monday.
Bridget Jones was introduced in the mid-1990s by author Helen Fielding, and originally translated for the cinema in 2001. The newest movie came out in recent months.
Speaking at the unveiling, Fielding did not dismiss taking her story further, saying you should “always keep options open.”
Zellweger noted that everyone can see themselves in Bridget, which highlights her massive popularity.
“It’s her vulnerability, her humanity,” she said. “We identify in her, we relate in her struggles.
“It makes it OK for the rest of us to be truly who we are. Imperfect.”
The character of Bridget Jones touched many female hearts, who found solace in her personal journey.
From her awkward work incidents, to her iconic granny pants, Bridget resonated with a demographic who found a mirror in her—and has attracted a whole new set of younger fans too.
The fourth film in the franchise, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was released in early this year, and depicts Bridget living as a single mother and facing today’s relationships.
It garnered varied critiques, but recorded the strongest cinema debut ever for a rom-com in the region, according to reports.
The film was described as the final one in the series—but commenting at the statue unveiling, two longtime enthusiasts, Faye and Wayne, said they were sure there would be a follow-up.
“There were so many things that were open-ended at the conclusion of the last film,” said Faye.
“Her character keeps evolving. I’d love to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the retirement home,” said Wayne.
When prompted about the prospect of a future story in Bridget Jones’ journey, Fielding said: “Anything is possible. Stories arrive as a writer. So if a narrative was inspired that I thought was authentic and compelling and new then I would write it.”
Certain critics think the struggling and imperfect heroine, who’s fixated with her weight and love life, is not the strongest inspiration.
And Fielding personally has noted earlier that some parts of the story have not aged well.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary would not be created in the present day, placed in modern times, because all those male coworkers would be dismissed,” she said previously. “It was a really different time.”
But commenting on Monday, she said she aspired the overarching idea of the story would continue to chime for readers.
“In my view, to have the comfort of observing a character that you can connect with, because they are real and flawed and open, it’s like having the friend you can be honest with,” she said.
The monument is the pioneering to commemorate a rom com on the square’s Scenes in the Square trail.
The public art exhibition first debuted in the year 2020 with the addition of eight sculptures featuring 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 royal chair from Game of Thrones, the giant canine and the explorer have been installed.
