Bridget Jones: A V. Good History of a Modern Heroine

Wednesday, 12th February 2025

Mugs of tea consumed, 2 (without sugar - am a virtuous and intelligent writer with no reliance on added sugar). Cigarettes, 0 (v. good), Alcohol units, 0 (also v. good), Thoughts of writing a blog about a modern fictional heroine, 1, Thoughts about meeting the deadline to write said blog, 32 (horrendous amount)...

Just under 25 years on from her big screen debut, this weekend sees the arrival in cinemas of the fourth and final instalment of the Bridget Jones films, titled Mad About The Boy. So, we've decided to revisit just what it is that has made her one of the most universally loved characters in both books and films over the last three decades…

• Where It All Began

Bridget Rose Jones - to give her her full name - is the creation of writer and journalist Helen Fielding. After the publication of her first novel, Cause Celeb, in 1994, she began writing the entries into that famous fictional diary in a regular column - minus a by-line - for The Independent newspaper in 1995.

The novelisation of these columns, Bridget Jones' Diary, was then published the following year in 1996, and was an instant bestseller, woven into a plot that was loosely based on that of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

Bridget was very much portrayed as a satirisation of an unlucky-in-love, single thirtysomething in London in the 90s, and also of women's obsession with love, life and romance, as well as wider social trends and prevalent women's magazines of the time, such as Cosmopolitan and More.

The story of the first book followed Bridget, a Bangor University graduate working in publishing, her flirtation and affair with her two-timing boss, Daniel Cleaver, and subsequent relationship with Mark Darcy, a successful barrister and old family friend with an awkward disposition, whilst she contends with her mother and father's marriage back at home disintegrating.

• Bridget on the Big Screen

It was five years later, in the spring of 2001, that the first film, based on the first book, arrived on cinema screens, directed by Sharon Maguire, with Fielding working with Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Notting Hill) on the screenplay.

Renée Zellweger, best known for her starring role in Jerry Maguire, was cast as Bridget, whilst Hugh Grant and Colin Firth were cast as Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy respectively. It was both a critical and commercial hit, garnering over $280m worldwide at the box office, and also earning Zellweger an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

The second book in the series, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (first published in 1999), was adapted into the sequel of the same name in November 2004, which followed the further exploits of Bridget with Mark Darcy, as she also navigated a new career in television as journalist on Sit-Up Britain, and briefly found herself wrongly incarcerated in Thailand.

Bridget Jones' Baby, the third of the films, was released in September 2016, and was based on Fielding's revived series of columns for The Independent from 2005 - 2006, following a content Bridget, now in her 40s, suddenly finding herself pregnant and torn between two men - her long standing flame Mark Darcy and billionaire Jack Qwant (played by Patrick Dempsey, of Grey's Anatomy fame) - as she tries to work out who the father is, all whilst the world weary Dr. Rawlings (played by Dame Emma Thompson, who also co-wrote the screenplay) looked on in bemusement.

Which brings us to today, and Mad About The Boy, which is set to find the much-loved character once again navigating her way through love, life and work, this time as a widowed mum of two. And as always, it wouldn't be Bridget without a few hilarious complications and mishaps along the way.

• Bridget In Popular Culture

The success of both the books and the films has seen Bridget become something of a national heroine and touchstone. In the 2003 "Big Read" survey for the BBC, the original book was placed at #75. It was also placed on the broadcaster's 2019 list of 100 Most Inspiring Novels, as well as winning the British Book of the Year Award in 1998.

Quite in common with a lot of big name films, its soundtracks have also crossed over into popular music. From the first film, both "Out of Reach" by British soul singer Gabrielle, and a cover of The Weather Girls' disco classic "It's Raining Men" by former Spice Girl, Geri Halliwell, became chart topping global hits.

Jazz musician and pianist Jamie Cullum's cover of Love Affair’s "Everlasting Love" was used as the main theme for The Edge of Reason in 2004, whilst Ellie Goulding's theme specially written for Bridget Jones' Baby, "Still Falling For You", became a big hit in 2016.

It also brought many other cultural reference points into the wider stratosphere, such as self help books (in particular, John Gray's Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus) and also the idea of the surrogate "urban family" of friends such as Bridget’s friends, Shazzer, Tom and Jude, that are formed in cities amongst 20 - 30 year olds, as well as redefining what it means to be a modern professional woman.

However, we would argue it is the fact that she has always been presented as a very human character, whose flaws and foibles are so honestly displayed, as well as her good and well intended qualities, that have endeared Bridget to so many. Something that we suspect is set to continue with Mad About The Boy, wherever life takes her next.

You can explore our selection of TV and Film Tours packages we have available to book on Experiences UK, which includes our special Bridget Jones Walking Tour, visiting many of the locations used in the films, as well as our other tours themed around films including Notting Hill, Harry Potter and James Bond.