The actress declares new Bridget Jones statue is “sweet”, noting, “She’s cuter than me.”
The Oscar-winning actress has praised the new statue of Bridget Jones as “adorable”, remarking, “Personally, it’s far more charming than me.”
The actress was talking as the new statue honoring the character she played for more than 20 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 movies in the early 2000s. The latest installment came out in recent months.
Talking at the ceremony, Fielding refused to rule out taking her story further, saying you should “avoid closing doors.”
The star noted that audiences can relate to Bridget, which highlights her enduring charm.
“It’s her openness, her authenticity,” she said. “We identify in her, we connect in her struggles.
“It gives permission for the everyone else to be genuinely who we are. Real.”
The character of Bridget Jones went straight to many women’s hearts, who took comfort in her trials and tribulations.
From her awkward work mishaps, to her notorious granny pants, Bridget spoke to a demographic who identified in her—and has recently won over a whole new set of new admirers too.
The fourth film in the series, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was debuted in February, and shows Bridget portrayed as a single mother and exploring modern dating.
It received varied critiques, but secured the highest theatrical launch ever for a love story in the British Isles, according to industry sources.
The film was promoted as the conclusion in the franchise—but reflecting at the ceremony, two longtime enthusiasts, Faye and Wayne, said they were sure there would be a next chapter.
“There were so many things that were not wrapped up at the end of the recent movie,” said Faye.
“Bridget keeps evolving. I’d love to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the retirement home,” added Wayne.
When asked about the chance of a new chapter in Bridget Jones’ journey, Fielding said: “Never say never. Ideas arrive as a author. So if a narrative appeared that I thought was true and engaging and original then I would write it.”
A few commentators think the imperfect and flawed lead, who’s fixated with her weight and love life, is not the best example.
And Fielding herself has acknowledged in the past that certain aspects of the story have not aged well.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary would not be created today, set now, because all those workplace characters would be fired,” she said previously. “That was a distinct period.”
But speaking on the unveiling day, she said she aspired the overarching idea of the story would continue to chime for fans.
“Personally, to have the reassurance of seeing a persona that you can identify with, because they are real and imperfect and emotionally honest, it’s like having the companion you can be real with,” she said.
The monument is the first to honor a romantic comedy on Leicester Square’s movie trail walk.
The cinema sculpture trail originally launched in recently with the installation of eight sculptures including classic duos, Mary Poppins, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Don Lockwood, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean and Wonder Woman.
In the time since, sculptures of Harry Potter, the iconic seat from Game of Thrones, the giant canine and the adventurer have been installed.
