Bridget JonesAuthor Helen Fielding Says She Writes the Iconic Character ‘For Renée’ Zellweger (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Renée Zellweger (left) and Helen Fielding at the ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ premiere on Feb. 12.Photo:John Nacion/Variety via Getty

John Nacion/Variety via Getty

Colin Firth (left) Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant in 2001’s ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’.Miramax/Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock

Miramax/Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I was absolutely terrified and couldn’t believe it at all happened,” Fielding said of the story’s success. “I mean, it was just a newspaper column written anonymously that I thought would be stopped after six weeks for being too silly. And who knew, really, that all this would still be happening.”

Fielding also told PEOPLE that the success of the franchise, particularly with its female-centered story, was surprising to her.

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“I think it’s very unusual because normally, in [franchises], you have wizards and stuff blowing up and fast cars and things like that, but in this, there’s just the perspective of one woman,” Fielding said. “That’s it. That’s the franchise, that’s it. The sense of humor.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“We’ve been forging this friendship for over 25 years together through this journey, shared journey, Bridget Jones' journey,” the actress said. “It was both wonderful and really sad.”

source: people.com