Renée Zellweger's unlucky-in-love hero to get a statue. Update: It's now going to be permanent.
The Bridget Jones franchise has made a staggering £675m to date, so it's only right that that a likeness of the title figure — first played by Renée Zellweger in 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary — should be erected at the home of British film premieres, Leicester Square.
A teaser photo of Bridget's statue — wearing a Tiffany heart necklace, and D for Darcy pendant (we're guessing no big pants though) — has been released, and fans need only wait till November to see it unveiled as part of the ongoing Scenes in the Square project, which already features the likes of Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, Indiana Jones and Bugs Bunny.
Says Helen Fielding, author of the Bridget Jones books: "For Bridget to be honoured as a British icon with her own statue alongside Paddington Bear, Mary Poppins and Admiral Lord Nelson (alright, he's down the road a bit!) is a huge thrill and reason for everyone to raise a glass of chardonnay to being 'just as you are.' I am touched and delighted for Bridget and Renée and hope that Bridget's mummy pants will ensure a sleek silhouette for this exciting statue unveiling."
Four films are based on Fielding's character of the hopelessly romantic/endlessly unlucky Bridget Jones, an idea based loosely on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Earlier this year saw the release of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, which was greeted by strong reviews. The statue is timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the franchise in 2026.
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