‘Throughout her story, she [Bridget Jones] has always been an advocate for authenticity, staying true to who she is and refusing to change for anyone. Bridget never stood for pretence, even at the most inopportune times, she was always sincere,’ says Sophie Dianne, as she reviews the latest film: Bridget Jones Mad About The Boy.
Bridget Jones’s Diary started life in 1995, as a weekly column in the pages of The Independent, written by journalist Helen Fielding. At the time Fielding worked on the paper’s news desk, until she devised a story that would change the course of her entire career. The column chronicled the life and antics of the fictional Miss Jones; a 30 something ‘singleton’ living in London, desperately trying to make sense of life and love.
A year later, Fielding published her work as a novel, and it has gone on to sell more than 15 million copies worldwide - It is in my mother’s opinion, one of the funniest books she’s ever read. Before being adapted into the popular film franchise, produced by Universal Pictures and Miramax Films.
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For anyone that’s not flicked through the pages of Miss Jones diary, here’s a rundown of life events. In 2001, the film franchise began, with Bridget Jones’s Diary, telling the story of a determined young women set on improving herself, all while starting a love affair with a charming publisher and falling for the reserved gentlemen and lawyer Mark Darcy. When we meet Miss Jones again in The Edge of Reason, her relationship with Darcy has blossomed, but she begins to question her future and his intentions. In the third instalment, Bridget has decided to focus on her professional career, as she is once again single. However, her plans are unexpectedly halted, when she discovers she’s pregnant and unsure of the father’s identity.
Fast forward to Mad About the Boy (2025), Bridget is now navigating life as a widow and single mum, with the help of her family, friends and former lover Daniel.
Fast forward to Mad About the Boy (2025), Bridget is now navigating life as a widow and single mum, with the help of her family, friends and former lover Daniel. Still dealing with grief, she is back at work and on the dating apps; pursing a much younger man and possibly her son’s science teacher. The film was released on the 13th February and after only four days at cinema’s, it has made a record break £11.8m at the box office, which is a first for rom-coms.
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GLAMOUR’S assistant editor and entertainment director, Emily Maddick believes Bridget Jones belongs in a bygone era. To her, Miss Jones promotes misogyny and lives in a world toxic to single women, where harmful habits and unhealthy relationships are valued. While there is truth to that, Bridget has still taught me some important lessons - smoking and extreme dieting aside.
Firstly, unlike typical literary heroines, virtue or self-possession are not Bridget’s strong suits.
Firstly, unlike typical literary heroines, virtue or self-possession are not Bridget’s strong suits. Instead, she’s neurotic, awkward and often feels inadequate, sometimes verbalising her thoughts without a filter. Bridget’s imperfection represented normal women; she never took herself too seriously and embraced the chaos. Even if it meant wearing that bunny costume or going to dinner with lots of ‘smug married couples.’
Secondly, she’s resilient. When Miss Jones’ love affair with Daniel Cleaver turned sour, it made her more determined to find Mr Right. She took the heartbreak and channelled it into something constructive.
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Thirdly, despite all her mistakes, Bridget’s self-respect never wavered. After discovering Daniels infidelity, she mourned the relationship and moved past the humiliation, choosing to remove him from her life. Bridget quit her job as a publicist and made healthier choices, which eventually led her back to Daniel.
Fourthly, she has a close circle of friends. Throughout the franchise, Bridget’s best friends remain constant in her life, giving her a sense of community and the support they all need, to battle life’s many milestones together. And this leads me to my final point.
Bridget was liked very much, just the way she was. Throughout her story, she has always been an advocate for authenticity, staying true to who she is and refusing to change for anyone. Bridget never stood for pretence, even at the most inopportune times, she was always sincere.
Although Bridget Jones’s lifestyle isn’t compatible with that of a Christian, it can’t be denied that her imperfectness aligns well with our walk with Jesus, or her will to love and be loved. And in my opinion, that makes for a pretty good role model.
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