Renée Zellweger: 'Fingers crossed' this is not the end of Bridget Jones

Renee Zellweger stars in the fourth instalment in the franchise

This article contains spoilers about Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy has been billed as the fourth and final film in the series - but its star Renée Zellweger says she has her "fingers crossed" that is not the case.

Zellweger has played our favourite hapless heroine for more than 20 years and seems as attached to her as ever, calling the character an "old friend".

Speaking at the film's premiere in London's Leicester Square on Wednesday evening, the actress says 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 laughs.

Yet, while there are no plans to take the Bridget Jones story any further, author Helen Fielding is not completely ruling out the prospect.

The new film sees Bridget living as a widow, becoming a single mother and tackling modern dating.

The story is partially inspired by Fielding's own loss. Her husband, Kevin Curran, died in 2016.

Zellweger says 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".

She adds she has always felt "really, really lucky to get the part" and "was just trying not to get fired".

It is obvious there is a real love between the cast too as Zellweger and her on screen father, Jim Broadbent, embrace on the pink carpet.

Hugh Grant was also at the premiere. Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy sees the return of Grant's roguish anti-hero, Daniel Cleaver.

He was declared dead at the start of the last film, Bridget Jones's Baby - only to be found alive just before the final credits.

We also see a slightly softer side of this notorious womaniser and cad in the new film.

New love interests

Leo Woodall (left) and Chiwetel Ejiofor play Bridget's love interests in the film

But Bridget's love interests in the film are brand new characters.

One Day's Leo Woodall plays her Tinder match who at 29 is (cough) a little younger than 51 year old Bridget.

Bafta winner Chiwetel Ejiofor plays a buttoned-up teacher Bridget encounters on the school run and a rain-soaked class trip.

Woodall says although he felt "a lot of pressure" going into the film he knew it was going to be "relatively easy" as soon as he met Zellweger as she was "joyous and generous and kind and good and obviously a wonderful actor".

On whether he has had any clumsy Bridget Jones moments himself, Woodhall says "he falls over quite a lot".

Ejiofor, who is mainly known for grittier roles in films like 12 Years a Slave and American Gangster says the film is a "different speed" to his usual projects.

But adds it was lovely to film: "Even the set is so warm, everyone is so excited about telling the story".

Gen Z appeal

Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant pose for the cameras at the premiere

For Fielding the success of Bridget Jones lies in its "emotionally honesty".

"When I first wrote Bridget it was an anonymous column in the Independent which I thought would be stopped after six weeks for being too silly," she says.

"That freed me up to be honest in a way I could never have been otherwise and I think that's what people related to.

"I thought I was the only person who felt like that and it turns out for a lot of people there is a huge gap between how you feel you are supposed to be and how you really are."

Bridget was a character created in the 1990s and Fielding says she is "really touched" that Gen Z have also embraced her.

"When I do a signing half the audience are Gen Z's. They're the first generation who have lived through a world crisis for ages. They're very similar to Bridget in their emotional fragility, their ability to share and cry on TikTok.

"And they have their same little rituals, Bridget has ice cream and vodka and they have sleep routines and things like that.

"I think they're a really interesting and lovely generation. I can't wait until they start writing more novels."

Inspired by Keir Starmer?

Author Helen Fielding said she is "really touched" a new generation has taken to the Bridget Jones story

It has long been rumoured that the book's character of human rights barrister Mark Darcy - played by Colin Firth in the previous Bridget Jones films - was based on barrister turned prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

So is there any truth in this?

"All I'll say about that is that if you look at early pictures of Colin in the film and pictures of Keir Starmer in a wig, they're awfully similar," Fielding says with a smile.

So we may never know that for sure, but could there be another Bridget Jones book and film?

"Never say never," Fielding adds.

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