London’s Leicester Square, long a beacon of cinematic glamour, welcomed a new icon this week: a bronze statue of Bridget Jones, the beloved rom-com heroine who has charmed audiences for a quarter of a century. The unveiling on Monday, November 17, 2025, marked both a milestone anniversary and a cultural celebration, drawing stars, creators, and fans to the heart of the city where so many of Bridget’s fictional escapades unfolded.
Renée Zellweger, the Oscar-winning actress who has embodied Bridget Jones across four films, was front and center at the ceremony. Dressed in a chic black coatdress with a midi hemline and striking white pumps featuring a bold red streak—part of the Christian Louboutin by Maison Margiela capsule collection released earlier this year—Zellweger added a subtle pop of color to the festivities, according to WWD. Her footwear, the Martoubi 25 style, boasted an elongated pointed toe, a 100mm heel, and the signature red sole, aligning perfectly with the celebratory mood.
Joining Zellweger on the fuchsia carpet were author Helen Fielding, whose columns and novels first brought Bridget to life, and Sally Phillips, the actress who played Bridget’s best friend in the films. Together, they pulled back a purple curtain to reveal the statue—a girlishly disheveled Bridget, hair tied back, clad in a mini skirt and unbuttoned cardigan, clutching her diary and pen. The sculpture, crafted by London-based 3D Eye studio, captures the character’s enduring spirit, blending nostalgia with a nod to her latest cinematic chapter.
“It’s pretty crazy. It’s kind of strange. It’s not something that you … ever expect. … It’s quite a surprise,” Zellweger told Reuters at the unveiling, clearly moved by the singular honor. She added, “I mean, she’s adorable … she’s really cute. Looks like Bridget to me.” The actress, who famously nailed the British accent despite her Texas roots, admitted to Artnet News, “I was just hoping I wouldn’t get fired,” reflecting on her early days in the role. Yet here she was, immortalized in bronze—an unlikely but fitting tribute for a character who never quite fit the mold.
The statue is now the 14th film icon to join Leicester Square’s “Scenes in the Square” trail, launched in 2020 to celebrate 100 years of cinema. This growing collection features silver screen legends such as Mary Poppins, Bugs Bunny, Wonder Woman, Batman, Mr Bean, Laurel and Hardy, and Indiana Jones, making Bridget Jones the first rom-com protagonist to be so honored. As USA TODAY notes, the trail has become a must-see for visitors and locals alike, reflecting the evolving tapestry of film history in the UK capital.
The timing of the unveiling was no accident. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” the 2001 film that catapulted the character—and Zellweger—into international stardom. Based on Fielding’s 1996 novel, itself inspired by her 1995 newspaper columns in The Independent, the film introduced audiences to Bridget’s relatable neuroses, romantic misadventures, and candid struggles with self-image. The franchise has since expanded to four films: “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001), “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” (2004), “Bridget Jones’s Baby” (2016), and this year’s “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.”
The latest installment, released in February 2025, smashed box office records in the UK and Ireland for a romantic comedy, according to Artnet News. “Mad About the Boy” picks up with Bridget as a widow and single mother, navigating the treacherous waters of modern dating apps and parenting, all while mourning the loss of her husband, Mark Darcy. The plot mirrors the emotional rollercoaster of Fielding’s 2013 novel, which stunned fans by killing off Darcy—a twist that provoked headlines and heartfelt reactions.
Zellweger herself was not immune to the story’s emotional weight. “I was a crazy person mourning this fictional character,” she confessed, as reported by Indulge Express. “I was weeping. It was also for that shared experience with Colin [Firth],” she continued, recalling her co-star’s signature portrayal of the dapper Mark Darcy. “Seeing him in his suit and beautiful coat, with his briefcase, looking dapper and very Mark Darcy. This is the end…we don’t get to do this anymore.” The film, however, offers new beginnings, with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall stepping in as Bridget’s potential love interests.
For Fielding, the statue’s arrival is a testament to Bridget’s enduring appeal. “My daughter’s generation now like Bridget, and that means a huge amount to me because it hardly ever happens,” she told Reuters. “So I feel very, very lucky, and yeah, I’m proud of Bridget.” The sculpture, she observed to The Guardian, presents “her stomach as flat as a pancake,” a nod to the “Mad About the Boy”-era Bridget but dressed in her original “Diary” clothes. Sally Phillips, ever the comic observer, quipped that the statue merges “Mad About the Boy-era weight with Bridget Jones’s Diary-era clothes.”
The legacy of Bridget Jones is more than cinematic. She has become a cultural touchstone, a symbol of vulnerability, resilience, and the messy pursuit of happiness. The character’s frankness about weight, love, and self-doubt resonated with millions, inspiring a generation of women (and plenty of men) to embrace their imperfections and laugh at life’s absurdities. As Artnet News points out, Bridget’s “timeless neuroses” are now winning over a new generation, proving that her story is far from finished.
The “Scenes in the Square” trail, where Bridget now stands alongside superheroes and slapstick legends, is itself a tribute to the power of storytelling. Launched to honor a century of cinema, it has become a living museum, evolving as new icons emerge. With four movie theaters hosting London’s biggest premieres, Leicester Square remains the beating heart of British film culture—and Bridget Jones, diary in hand, is now part of its permanent cast.
Fielding, ever the storyteller, hinted that Bridget’s saga might not be over. “Mad About the Boy” was supposed to conclude her adventures, but as fans know, Bridget has a habit of surprising everyone—including her creator. Whether or not another chapter awaits, the bronze statue ensures that Bridget Jones’s spirit—awkward, hopeful, and indomitably British—will endure in the city she so loves.
With laughter, tears, and a dash of red-soled style, Bridget Jones’s legacy is set in stone—and bronze—for generations to come.
