Bridget Jones’s DiaryUnitRenée Zellweger as Bridget Jones and Colin Firth as Mark Darcy. © 2001 NBCUniversal All Rights Reserved (Image: © 2001 NBCUniversal All Rights Reserved)
Nearly three decades after Bridget Jones first appeared in our lives, fans can now delve into a revealing documentary about the creation of one of Britain’s most cherished characters and the real woman who inspired her.
‘Being Bridget Jones’ offers an intimate look at Helen Fielding, the author behind the beloved series, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Bridget’s inception and leading up to the recent release of ‘Bridget Jones Mad About The Boy’, five years later. The documentary uncovers how Fielding crafted the novels that would eventually become Oscar-nominated films.
It provides not only a glimpse into the real woman behind the fictional character but also an insider’s view of the film’s production and reception, featuring insights from notable figures such as Hugh Grant, Andrew Marr and Germaine Greer.
Echoing Fielding’s signature wit and sarcasm in the books, the documentary is laced with humour. The narration playfully teases the book and film series, opening with: “This is the story of how an anxious, calorie-obsessed, usually p***** woman in her 30s changed the world.”
The documentary traces Fielding’s journey from her middle-class upbringing, which mirrors Bridget Jones’s background, through the trials and tribulations of her TV career before her breakthrough success. It becomes evident that much of Bridget Jones’s character draws from the author’s own experiences when Fielding unveils an old notebook from her university days, declaring, “This is really the original Bridget Jones Diary.”, reports .
(L-R) Colin Firth, Renee Zellweger and Hugh Grant stars of “Bridget Jones Diary” arriving for the UK premiere at the Empire in London’s Leicester Square. (Image: PA)
The documentary sheds light on how Renée Zellweger, a non-British actress, became the face of Bridget Jones. “Casting Bridget was quite a scary thing, and we decided in the end to go for a Texan,” one of the film’s creators reveals, acknowledging the subsequent uproar in the tabloids.
Hugh Grant shares his initial reaction to hearing Renée read the script as Bridget, noting that she “did quite a good British accent, but she was Princess Margaret. She thought she better loosen it up a bit”. The behind-the-scenes revelations have been well-received by fans.
One ardent Bridget fan took to X to declare: “If you ask me, Being Bridget Jones is one of the best documentaries ever made.”
Author Helen Fielding attends a photocall ahead of a signing session for her new book ‘Bridget Jones – Mad About the Boy’, at Foyles, in central London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday October 10, 2013. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire (Image: PA)
Another satisfied viewer chimed in: “Ahhhh, Being Bridget Jones really is as good as everyone says. A quite perfect documentary,” while another added: “This documentary was brilliant and just made me fall in love with Bridget and Hugh Grant even more”, also expressing a sense of 90s nostalgia.
Despite celebrating the success of the film series, the documentary doesn’t shy away from discussing the cultural shifts since its inception, including the casual workplace sexual harassment depicted in the films. Fielding admitted that she doesn’t believe the first film could be made today.
The Guardian lauded the documentary for its straightforward approach to these subjects, stating: “The conversations here are as smart as they are funny. There is a proper discussion about the genre of “chick lit” and snobby attitudes towards women’s writing about women’s lives.”
For those Bridget Jones enthusiasts who didn’t catch its premiere, Being Bridget Jones can now be streamed on iPlayer.