Bridget Jones director shares truth about working with Renée Zellweger on emotional end to franchise

3 weeks ago 1

The stars of Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Leo Woodall, took to the pink carpet for the movie’s London premiere before director Michael Morris took to the stage to welcome the fourth instalment

Bridget Jones director shares sad truth about Renée Zellweger as franchise ends

Bridget Jones director shares sad truth about Renée Zellweger as franchise ends

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy director Michael Morris has revealed what it's really like behind the scenes working with Renée Zellweger.

Renée, 55, has played the frazzled English TV producer for over 24 years, but fans of the movies will see a very different Bridget this time around as she navigates life as a single mother who is delving into the choppy waters of online dating in this modern age.

Speaking to The Mirror at the film's premiere in London's Leicester Square on Wednesday evening, director Michael gave a gushing speech about Renée before the movie's debut. Having always been a huge fan of the iconic character that is Bridget, Michael said that all his dreams came true when he was given the once in a lifetime opportunity to direct the fourth instalment - and working with Renée was an even bigger career milestone.

Renee has played Bridget Jones for over 24 years (

Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

"Renee is one of these people who is absolutely herself," he said. "She’s wildly friendly and bursts through any preconception you may have about what a Hollywood star is like. This woman has been in all my favorite films. For as long as I can remember, character after character - from comedies and dramas to musicals, there’s nothing that she doesn’t do. But when you’re talking to her, she’s completely present. I think that’s why she’s so wonderful in this role."

Michael said that he wasn't sure if he could ever imagine another Bridget Jones movie, but that he couldn't see anyone else but Renee playing the iconic role.

Renee herself emphasised the significance of her meeting with director Morris in her decision to return to the role. Speaking to the audience at the film's premiere, she said: "When we met, Michael was so honest. He was striving for how to best capture these moments of a life in a way that people have experienced them: How is this relatable? How can we tell the truth?"

The actress also said that she is "in denial" and "it hasn't sunk in yet" that the franchise may be coming to a close. "Let me live in denial for a little longer", she quipped.

Bridget is navigating life as a single woman in the new movie (

Image:

Universal)

The fourth instalment of the franchise sees Bridget living as a widow, becoming a single mother and tackling modern dating after her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) passes away in tragic circumstances. The story is partially inspired by Fielding's own loss after her husband, Kevin Curran, died in 2016.

American actress Renee told fans that the film is a "beautiful story and really the most personal for Helen. She is sharing about her own experiences about loss, grief and finding new happiness, it's a pretty special one". The actress added that she has always felt "really, really lucky to get the part" and "was just trying not to get fired".

The fourth film in the Bridget Jones franchise also brings back Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver. The cast also includes Sarah Solemani, James Callis, Sally Phillips, and Shirley Henderson as Bridget’s friends, along with Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones as her father and mother. Celia Imrie, Neil Pearson and Joanna Scanlan also reprise their roles. The new additions to the cast are Emma Thompson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Isla Fisher

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is released in UK cinemas on Valentine's Day.

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