Bridget Jones, the chain smoking, big-knickers-wearing character was the boozy hopeless romantic icon for an entire generation. 23 years since the first film, and being introduced to the self-deprecating, weight-obsessed thirty something, author Helen Fielding said the modern day Gen Z are more relatable than ever to Bridget.
While many Gen Z aren’t big drinkers like Bridget, or smoke half as much – or even ever – there are some relatable parts to her that Helen feels are the same.
The acclaimed author noted how Gen Z are as “insecure” as Bridget Jones, but loves that the younger generation remind her so much of the fictional character.
Bridget Jones’ hang up on her body image and relationship woes may feel some what relatable to us, and Helen described the new generation of fans as “very Bridget-y” at the third annual Queen’s Reading Room Festival at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.
According to The Telegraph Helen said: “I think it’s because they identify with the insecurity, the body-image thing. But at the same time they feel guilty about worrying about that because of body positivity, so they’ve got a double dose of that anxiety.”
However she also noted the stark differences in Bridget finding comfort in ice cream and Chardonnay, while Gen Z are more protein powder and collagen. But while Gen Z and Bridget Jones may differ in that sense, both generations seek comfort for ‘cosyness’ and creating a ‘little safe cocoon with their friends’ in order to deal with the world around them.
Bridget is clumsy, kind and funny, which made her addictive to watch, and as many people got to their twenties, realised the character can be relatable in terms of dating and how sometimes saying the odd profanity really can make you feel a bit better.
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Earlier this year, the author starred in a tell-all documentary about creating the iconic movie franchise. The documentary reveals how Fielding came to write the books that would go on to become Oscar-nominated films.
Not only do you get to know the real woman behind the on-screen one, but you gain insight into the behind-the-scenes and reception of the film from various talking heads such as Hugh Grant, Andrew Marr and Germaine Greer.
“Casting Bridget was quite a scary thing, and we decided in the end to go for a Texan,” a creator of the films explained, and added, “so there was much uproar in the tabloids at the time.”
Hugh Grant details the first time he heard Renée read the script as Bridget. He said she “did quite a good British accent, but she was Princess Margaret. She thought she better loosen it up a bit”. And fans are loving the juicy behind the scenes details. One Bridget fan at the time took to X to write: “If you ask me, Being Bridget Jones is one of the best documentaries ever made.”
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