After more than twenty years as Bridget Jones, Renée Zellweger is closing out the beloved character’s journey with the release of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. This final chapter, which premiered on Peacock and entered Emmy consideration, finds Zellweger both celebrating and mourning the character she has inhabited for decades, with her reflections highlighting the deep connection she shares with Bridget and the fans who have followed her story.
Looking Back on a Quarter-Century as Bridget Jones
Renée Zellweger’s portrayal of Bridget Jones began in 2001, introducing audiences to an imperfect, relatable protagonist navigating love and life. At a recent For Your Consideration event in Los Angeles held at the Ted Mann Theater, Zellweger expressed her affection for the role, admitting how much Bridget Jones has influenced her personally and artistically.
“I love her vulnerability, and I love to find spaces where she’s just not quite feeling that she measures up, and the opportunity to meet her again in different stages of her life and to learn how she’s different.”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress
The enduring appeal of Bridget as a mother, a professional, and a widow underlines her ongoing transformation. The emotional tone was clear both on stage and in conversation, with Zellweger sharing laughter and tears with the audience as she discussed letting go of a character she’s played for nearly twenty-five years.
Mad About the Boy: A New Chapter of Growth and Loss
The fourth film in the franchise, streamed in the U.S. and garnering Emmy attention for Outstanding Television Movie, lead actress, and Michael Morris’ direction, brings Bridget into new emotional territory. Fans encounter an older, wiser protagonist who faces grief while retaining her signature hope and humor. Director Michael Morris, a London native, described the film as more than just an ending.
“I hope it immerses you in her world,”
—Michael Morris, Director. He continued,
“I hope it brings you whatever feelings it brings you.”
—Michael Morris, Director. Morris characterized this chapter as a
“celebration, a meditation on love and loss, and a joy to work on.”
Leaving Mark Darcy Behind: An Emotional Farewell
During a panel discussion after the screening, Zellweger revealed the moment that truly marked the end of an era—the last time she saw Colin Firth on set as Mark Darcy.
“It just got me. I didn’t expect to be so emotional about the end of this shared journey with my friend … the finality of it just really was a gut punch. … It sounds so silly, but it felt very profound in the moment,”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress. She added,
“Maybe I’m crazy because maybe I love a fictional character,”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress, and confessed,
“I didn’t want Mark Darcy to go away.”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress.
For many fans, Mark Darcy was central to Bridget’s story, making his departure a significant turning point. Yet the film addresses this grief candidly, allowing both Bridget and her audience to process loss while moving forward.
Reflecting on Chemistry and Friendship with Fellow Cast
Zellweger’s admiration for her co-stars also came to the forefront as she reminisced about working with Hugh Grant, who portrayed Daniel Cleaver. Grant was already attached to the project before Zellweger joined, and she recounted their first meeting with clear affection.
“I would sneak down there and watch all of the animation festivals that would come through,”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress.
“And here’s this guy playing Chopin … in Impromptu,”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress. Describing her initial excitement about working alongside Grant, she said,
“When I heard he was in this Bridget Jones film that I was going to go and do in England. … I think I had a heart attack.”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress.
Exploring Bridget’s New Relationships and Family Dynamics
With Mark Darcy and Daniel Cleaver no longer romantic options, Mad About the Boy introduces fresh faces to Bridget’s world. Helen Fielding’s script brings in Roxster, a younger man played by Leo Woodall, and the mature Mr. Walliker, portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor. Michael Morris was deliberate in his casting choices.
“I was absolutely laser-focused on trying to get Leo and Chiwetel into the film,”
—Michael Morris, Director.
Even Colin Firth’s Mark, though absent, remains a presence as Bridget and her children Billy (Casper Knopf) and Mabel (Mila Jankovic) learn to honor his memory. Morris highlighted a key scene where Bridget and her children release balloons for Mark, explaining its emotional resonance.
“The scene could be a terribly sad moment,”
—Michael Morris, Director, but an unscripted exchange between Zellweger and young Mabel transforms it into a touching display of love and resilience.
Moments of Levity Amidst the Heartache
Despite the film’s somber themes, humor plays a critical role, as always in the Bridget Jones saga. Zellweger described her favorite scene in the film involving a lip plumper, saying,
“I had the best time trying not to laugh … and watching (an unsuspecting) Emma Thompson’s face,”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress. These glimpses of joy break up the film’s intensity and are a testament to Bridget’s enduring optimism, no matter the adversity she faces.
Realism and Intimacy: A Different Bridget Jones
Zellweger described the new film as “the most intimate” of the series, noting that author Helen Fielding drew inspiration from real-life experiences. As Bridget matures in her new roles and faces personal change, her struggles remain universally relatable. The actress reflected on this connection with the audience:
“How has she changed and grown? How are her values different? How are her choices different?”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress. She continued,
“I’m sure everybody feels that they see a lot of themselves in this character. I think the profound gift is that she taps into those things that we all recognize in ourselves, our humanity and feeling not enough, or our fears and all of that.”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress.
Director Michael Morris echoed this sentiment, underscoring the franchise’s rare longevity. He noted,
“but this is a franchise set around a real woman. … She’s actually just a person living her life, and we’ve known her for 25 years. That’s a real privilege to work on something like that.”
—Michael Morris, Director.
The Legacy, Impact, and Joy of Bridget Jones’s Final Adventure
For Michael Morris, the essence of Bridget Jones lies in its blend of
“joy and heartbreak, comedy and humanity.”
This latest installment feels fresh and different, reflecting Bridget’s evolution as a character.
“I think there’s a life that [Renée] brings, and there’s a joy that is there, even when her world is falling apart, and she’s a fabulous catastrophe,”
—Michael Morris, Director.
“but even when it’s falling apart, we just lean right in, because there’s so much optimism in the way that [she] brought Bridget to us.”
—Michael Morris, Director.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy stands out as an emotional and fitting curtain call for a story that has spanned generations. Zellweger recalled filming the final scenes as a time of heartfelt goodbyes and lasting memories.
“I loved the dancing in the garden,”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress.
“It was one of our last days filming. And setting up as you guys saw, standing off the side for a little while and watching everybody dancing on that floor under the disco ball in that glorious garden. … I can’t think of a better way to wrap up the experience than to watch the joy because that was real with all our friends out there, with the music blasting under the stars. That was very special.”
—Renée Zellweger, Actress.
Renée Zellweger’s reflections on filming the final installment emphasize both the joy and sorrow of saying goodbye to a character beloved for her humanity and vulnerability. For Bridget Jones, her family, and audiences everywhere, the journey may be ending, but her legacy continues to inspire and resonate.
