"We're both goofballs, so we laugh very easily," the actress tells PEOPLE of WoodallRenée Zellweger says she and her Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy costar Leo Woodall sparked an immediate connection on set.

The “Bridget Jones” franchise is long beloved by fans, due in extremely large part to Renée Zellweger’s portrayal of the title character. So, yes, the actress was a resource director Michael Morris turned to a lot while making the fourth film — and there was one particular insight from the Oscar winner that he says unlocked the whole thing.

Renée Zellweger joins TODAY to talk about her new film, “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” and how they made the title character relatable by having her experience the milestones and "the heavier things that life throws at you.