Renée Zellweger reveals how she feels about Bridget Jones 4âs sad twist
Audiences have been left in tears by the filmâ??s surprisingly emotional storyline
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Renée Zellweger has revealed how she feels about the plot of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
The fourth film in the Bridget franchise, based on Helen Fieldingâs 2013 book, sees Bridget Jones navigate âlife as a widow and single mom with the help of her family, friends, and former lover Daniel. Back to work and on the dating apps, following the death of her husband and father of her children, Mark Darcy.
Uproar over the death of Colin Firthâs Mark Darcy made front page news when Fieldingâs novel was published in 2013. Early film viewers have been left similarly distressed, with many leaving the cinema in tears.
Speaking to The Guardian, Zellweger â who has played the titular character since 2001 â admitted Darcyâs death had a huge emotional impact on her, too, leaving her feeling ârottenâ.
âI was a crazy person mourning this fictional character,â she said. âI was weeping.
âIt was also for that shared experience with Colin,â the Oscar-winning actor added. âSeeing him in his suit and beautiful coat, with his briefcase, looking dapper and very Mark Darcy.
âThis is the endâ¦we donât get to do this anymore,â Zellweger said.
Colin Firth and Renee Zellweger in âBridget Jonesâs Diaryâ (Universal )
Following Darcyâs death, Chiwetel Ejiofor, who plays her sonâs science teacher, and Leo Woodall are in the film as love interests for Bridget.
Speaking at the movieâs London premiere this week, Zellweger addressed the age gap between her 51-year-old Bridget and Woodallâs 29-year-old Roxster.
âI mean, I think itâs nothing new,â she told Variety. âBut maybe the social taboos are melting away⦠itâs never a bad thing. Thereâs certain things that we probably donât need to have opinions about, and where people find love⦠why would that ever be a problem?â
Zellweger and Leo Woodall in âBridget Jones: Mad About the Boyâ (Universal Studios)
Woodall echoed Zellweger, saying it was important to âget people used toâ age-gaps. âItâs a real relationship that happens a lot and you know, weâre just not used to seeing it on screen,â he said.
For fans upset that Mark Darcy is no more, Zellweger added working with her two new leading men, Ejiofor and Woodall, made her feel like she was âspoiled for richesâ.
âThatâs not a bad day at work right there. Talented, wonderful fellas,â she said.