Life lessons she taught Gen Z from self-acceptance to the power of granny pants
BBC News
Your 20s are a bad date, a whirlwind of career crisis, wondering if you ever real Let your life be together.
Enter the chaotic charm Queen Bridget Jones, who has been tripping up in life lessons since many of us remember before.
Although Bridget Jones’ original diary was released in 1996 and released in 2001, the seemingly struggling and flawed heroine attracted the heart of Generation Z, which is in Helen Fei Helen Fielding’s novel was born when it was first published.
Fielding said she found that women in their 20s had a real interest in Bridget’s trial and ordeal, which was “comfortable.” In her book signature, she said “half of the audience is Z ZS.”
From navigating embarrassing work misfortune to realizing that self-love (and maybe a cup of Chardonnay) is the key to happiness, Bridget has been there, done it, and told the story alive.
Sophie Tyler, 25, from Yorkshire, was 27, before the release of the new movie Bridget Jones.
And then we – Yasmin and Noor – both fans of franchise a lot of Talk about this.
When did you discover Bridget Jones?
Yasmin: In the summer before high school, I stole a torn copy of Bridget Jones’ diary from my parents’ bookshelf and read everything one night hidden under my duvet. To me, it’s the Bible of Adult Life, it’s the edge of adolescence, and entering seventh grade feels like a must read. Almost everyone was hanging over my mind at that age, but one thing kept bothering me: Bridget Jones felt like a real woman, with other stories targeting children The perfect heroines are different, these heroines are flawed and subtle.
NOOR: I was in school and I remember my English teacher talking about one of the movies. She refuses to see it because she feels the whole premise is totally unrealistic (“It seems like a woman so beautiful, capable will try to find love”). But my sister is going, so I tagged it, it was love at first sight, and I admit my fantasy about Hugh Grant.
Sophie T: My best friend and I watched the first movie while we were around 14. I think the scene where Bridget sleeps with Hugh Grant’s character Daniel Cleaver may not be for us for the first time in reflection. I do remember that she shouldn’t have worn big shorts (but I don’t know Why), we giggled in all the adult fragments.
Can idols from the 1990s teach someone about love today in their 20s?
NOOR: Bridget Jones’ obsession with Daniel Cleaver was my 20s life. I’m chasing bad boys and being addicted to drama, so it’s totally relevant. My friend and I are in an endless casual relationship – it’s also very Bridge. Her dating life is a definition of the situation, and it was even before that. But what I really like is that she (eventually) realizes that she deserves something better. She taught us that you can find a Mr. Darcy who loves you “like you” – even if he does wear a reindeer jumper and folds his pants before bed.
Yasmin: Bridget provides us with the ultimate guide to overcoming heartbreak: Lying on the sofa in old pajamas, eating ice cream from the bathtub while you cry alone. Unlike Bridget in early films, today’s 20s don’t keep checking answer calls, but we yes Some post-split stalking. Even if the technology is different, early Bridge’s neurotic tendency can still tell us that obsession with someone is worth little.
Sophie G: Bridget isn’t a perfect character, it’s OK. You should be loved because of who you are, rather than trying to change yourself to fit in what society should be, but learning to accept it is a difficult task.
Hannah: At first, Bridget is a microcosm of a woman who thought she needed a man to survive, but by the end of the first film, she taught us to value good people, respect men, and not tolerate those who cheat (sure of them, for sure. , they shouldn’t be so hot! ).
She also teaches us how to work in a relationship, love is a choice, and how to be vulnerable and have boundaries at the same time.
What does Bridget’s character mean to you?
Sophie T: It recovers that there is no need to change ourselves in a constantly pressuring society to make us slimmer and taller to read more books and become the best books of our hobby. It is very important to have a role that is self-acceptable when we are constantly oppressed to change ourselves.
Yasmin: I love Bridget embracing her chaotic energy, which really attracts Clan Z. If she was a woman in her 20s, she would definitely fall in love with the concept of Brat Summer—and not Chaka Khan, who would stimulate Charli XCX’s 365 through headphones when she was commuting in the morning.
NOOR: Wear big underwear. Sometimes I eat all the contents of the refrigerator. And don’t be beaten by bad hair!
But, is there any problem with the series in 2025?
Yasmin: Bridget is by no means perfect – her calorie count obsession feels old and other characters brand women who weigh 60 kilograms of fat. It may be more celebrating the positivity of the body now—in fact, some women will like “the bottom of two bowling balls”—but being self-aware of your appearance is a common feeling beyond decades.
One thing I want to say is that it’s hard to feel also Sorry, Bridget had a successful publishing and journalism career when he owned his own apartment in central London and didn’t seem to have to worry about a round of drink prices in the bar – nothing is very realistic now.
NOOR: You can definitely argue about the poor age of older books and movies. First, there are too many sexist jokes. Then you get into all the obsessions about being single, and Bridget has annoyances about calorie intake.
Most of this feels different in the context of the progress we are making now, but that’s not to say that it’s no longer relevant: One of my friends is considering Ozempic, while others are still worried about why they haven’t achieved their own Dreaming about partner as they slid past Tinder and Bumble.
Sophie G: I think if Bridget is created now, some of the more “problematic” elements in her character might change, but that’s a shame because it’s part of her charm.
We all say and do what we kick ourselves in the future. Most of Bridget’s problematic moments are the result of women’s stress in our society. Bridget’s move feels more realistic than some perfect feminists who handle everything in the best way.
What did you learn through Bridget to understand the importance of friendship?
promise: I don’t think I can go through the many crises of my 20s like Bridget did with a bunch of close female friends around me. These days, there may be fewer Friday bar trips after get off work, and more yoga and spin sessions, but the overall message is the same: Choose your friends wisely because they are friends there when everything else goes wrong .
Sophie T: This friendship will always be in the ups and downs of romantic life: ridicule the failure and comfort you when needed. Bridget’s interaction with his friends is the same as mine. We always catch a meal and drink to moan – even though we smoke less these days.
Yasmin: Find friends who can eat blue celery soup! Rather than drinking at the finest London bar and bringing the black taxi home, we split a bottle of cheap Tesco on one of our crammed fragile flats. But it doesn’t matter what you’re doing, it’s just a bunch of supportive friends who can tell you when it’s time to give up on the toxic Daniel Cleaver style.
Bridget taught you your career?
Sophie T: Whenever I was in a working state where I met with new friends, I always imagined the scene in the movie where Bridget tried to introduce the facts about the other person and mess it up.
She also always sticks to me when she tells her boss Daniel’s iconic scene of resignation. When I had to deal with and fight against gender discrimination in my career, I imagined respect in the backstage.
NOOR: Don’t send emails before reading, don’t try to use a language you don’t know. Oh, don’t sleep with your boss.
Sophie G: There are some new things that can be tried and put yourself there, no matter your age or you think you should be in your career at some point. Bridget’s fear of public speaking certainly resonated with me in the past, but knowing I would never have to be in Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and Salmon Rushdie ) Show a gratifying idea in front of you.
Hannah: Ambitious and ambitious. A successful career is important to a sense of purpose. You can make mistakes and work through them, and you can make bold decisions and take risks.
Answers have been edited for lengthening and clarity