The film character has come under scrutiny for being obsessed with her weight and wanting to find a man
Ekin Karasin2 minutes ago
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Renee Zellweger has defended her film Bridget Jones from claims she’s “toxic” and exists in a misogynistic culture.
Helen Fielding’s beloved character has come under fire in recent years from “woke” critics for appearing to be obsessed with her weight and wanting to find a man.
Viewers also accused Hugh Grant’s character Daniel Cleaver of being “sexist” in the first film due to his problematic comments and behaviour towards his employee Jones at work.
However, Zellweger, 55, has hit out at the negative commentary surrounding her character amid the release of the fourth installment in the franchise, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
“I don’t find it toxic, in my opinion. I love Bridget Jones. I’ve always loved Bridget Jones, and I love her more with every reunion,” she told The Sun.
“I never thought there was anything wrong with her. I’d always thought of it more generally as a representation of how we pick on ourselves about things that are entirely of no consequence – because she’s not an overweight person.”
The actress, 55, added, “And she’s cute and there’s nothing at all wrong with her or her experiences or where she is” before praising Jones’ “self-deprecating” attitude and her “optimism”.
Several of the franchise’s plot lines and aspects of Jones’ character have come under scrutiny recently, having aged badly since the first film in 2001.
Last month, Jones and Grant discussed whether their characters’ work affair would be considered “inappropriate” in today’s society due to the power imbalance.
“Do you think the original film looks dated now? For instance, our romance, do you think people would think that’s very inappropriate. He’s her boss and he’s exploiting his powerful position. Where do you stand on that?” Grant asked during a chat with Vogue.
Zellweger responded: “Well, I’m sure HR would have some stern rules down at the publishing house these days, don’t you think?”
Discussing what would happen if Cleaver sent inappropriate text messages to Jones now, she added: “I’m sure there would’ve been the meeting, right? Everyone would’ve had to get together and talk about how you engage with people.”
In the fourth film, Jones appears to have taken on a more politically correct outlook on life.
When a work colleague calls her “hot,” she says: “I think you will find that sort of language is a little outmoded in the workplace.”
She also praises her younger love interest Roxster (played by Leo Woodall) for asking for permission to kiss her.
“Aw, a generation who ask,” she says.
Despite months of anticipation, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy has failed to win over critics.
“All the old cast is back together, with some lubricious young blood pumped in, and there’s a half-hearted attempt to move the emotional dial forwards to confront age and loss,” he wrote.
”Renee Zellweger gives a performance that’s impressive in its clownish vulnerability. But the brittle British accent and physical tics she initially brought to Bridget – the self-conscious totter, head-cocks and winsome pursed moues – have now become so magnified our heroine looks like an alien who learned to pass for human by watching silent movies, or possibly footage of geckos.”
