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Renée Zellweger has described the new statue of Bridget Jones as “delightful”, remarking, “Personally, she’s a lot sweeter than me.”

The actress was speaking as the recently revealed statue celebrating the character she embodied for more than 20 years was unveiled in the iconic London square on the start of the week.

Bridget Jones was created in the mid-1990s by author Helen Fielding, and initially brought for the cinema in 2001. The latest installment was released this past February.

Commenting at the ceremony, Fielding left open continuing the series, stating you should “avoid closing doors.”

The star noted that everyone can see themselves in Bridget, which accounts for her enduring charm.

“Her sensitivity, her humanity,” she said. “We recognise ourselves in her, we recognise ourselves in her challenges.

“It reassures us for the others to be genuinely who we are. Flawed.”

The persona of Bridget Jones touched many female hearts, who felt understood in her personal journey.

From her awkward work mishaps, to her iconic granny pants, Bridget resonated with a generation who found a mirror in her—and has attracted a whole new set of younger fans too.

The latest movie in the franchise, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was launched in early this year, and depicts Bridget living as a single mother and tackling contemporary romance.

It earned mixed reviews, but secured the highest theatrical launch ever for a romantic comedy in the region, according to data.

The film was described as the conclusion in the series—but speaking at the event, two dedicated followers, Faye and Wayne, said they were convinced there would be a next chapter.

“There are so many things that were left unresolved at the conclusion of the recent movie,” said Faye.

“Her character keeps evolving. I hope to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the nursing home,” remarked Wayne.

When prompted about the prospect of a new chapter in Bridget Jones’ story, Fielding said: “Anything is possible. Ideas arrive as a author. So if a concept came to me that I thought was authentic and compelling and fresh then I would write it.”

A few commentators think the imperfect and flawed heroine, who’s fixated with her appearance and relationship status, is not the strongest inspiration.

And Fielding personally has acknowledged in the past that some parts of the series seem less relevant today.

“Bridget Jones’s Diary couldn’t be written in the present day, placed in modern times, because all those men in the office would be dismissed,” she said last year. “It was a distinct period.”

But speaking on the unveiling day, she said she hoped the broader theme of the novel would remain relevant for audiences.

“In my view, to have the solace of observing a character that you can identify with, because they are genuine and human and vulnerable, it’s like having the confidante you can be honest with,” she said.

The sculpture is the pioneering to commemorate a romantic comedy on Leicester Square’s Scenes in the Square exhibit.

The cinema sculpture exhibition was introduced in 2020 with the installation of several statues including classic duos, Mary Poppins, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Don Lockwood, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean and Wonder Woman.

Since then, statues of Harry Potter, the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, Clifford the Big Red Dog and the explorer have been included.