It now seems absurd to imagine that anybody but Renee Zellweger could play the role of Bridget Jones on the big screen. She is due to portray the relatable diarist once again in this year's Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy — 24 years after the first film had us all belting out All By Myself in our pyjamas — and we wouldn't have anybody else in the

American actress Renee Zellweger is adored as the iconic and relatable role of Bridget Jones, but before she landed the lead, there were a few other names reportedly in the

"I'm a fan of Bridget Jones.... That I share that with so many people is a really cool thing," Renée Zellweger told Newsweek in an exclusive interview. Nearly 24 years ago, the movie starring Zellweger as that young,

Renee Zellweger has defended the Bridget Jones franchise against critics. The actress defended the hit franchise against claims it showcases "toxic" sexism, ageism and anti-fat bias, telling The Sun she found her character relatable.

Bridget Jones is a woman who has been changed by “the tragedies she has experienced” in her life, something people can relate to, said Renée Zellweger, who portrays the character created by writer Helen Fielding,