Life classes she taught Gen Z from self-acceptance to the facility of granny pants

Your 20s are a whirlwind of unhealthy dates, profession crises, and questioning in case you’ll ever actually get your life collectively.

Enter Bridget Jones, the queen of chaotic attraction, who has been stumbling by way of life classes since earlier than many people can bear in mind.

Regardless of the unique Bridget Jones’s Diary guide being launched in 1996 and the movie in 2001, it appears the floundering and flawed heroine has captivated the hearts of Gen Z, who weren’t born when Helen Fielding’s novel was first revealed.

Fielding says she finds it “comforting” that ladies of their 20s have an actual curiosity in Bridget’s trials and tribulations. At her guide signings, she says “half the viewers are Gen Zs”.

From navigating embarrassing work mishaps to realising that self love (and possibly an additional glass of Chardonnay) is the important thing to happiness, Bridget has been there, completed that, and lived to inform the story.

Forward of the discharge of the brand new movie Bridget Jones: Mad Concerning the Boy subsequent week, we have been talking to a few ladies of their 20s concerning the life classes the character taught them: Sophie Gwillym from Cardiff, 28, Hannah Sales space in Chester, 25, and 27-year-old Sophie Tyler from Yorkshire.

After which there’s us – Yasmin and Noor – each followers of the franchise who’ve loads to say about it.

Yasmin: In the summertime earlier than highschool, I stole a tattered copy of Bridget Jones’s Diary from my mother and father’ bookshelf and browse it multi functional night time hidden below my cover. To me, it was a bible for grownup life, which, being on the sting of puberty and going into 12 months seven, felt like a complete must-read. Virtually all of it went over my head at that age however one factor caught with me: Bridget Jones felt like an actual lady who, in contrast to different excellent heroines that featured in lots of tales that had been really geared toward youngsters, was flawed and nuanced.

Noor: I used to be at college and I bear in mind my English instructor speaking about one of many movies. She was refusing to go see it, as she felt the entire premise was utterly unrealistic (“As if such a good looking, competent lady can be struggling to seek out love”). However my older sister was going, so I tagged alongside and it was love at first sight plus I am going to admit I fancied Hugh Grant only a bit.

Sophie T: My finest good friend and I watched the primary movie at a sleepover once we had been about 14. I believe, on reflection, the scene the place Bridget sleeps with Hugh Grant’s character, Daniel Cleaver, for the primary time most likely wasn’t acceptable for us… I do bear in mind considering she should not have worn the large knickers (however I might’ve had no concept why), and we giggled by way of all of the grownup bits.

Noor: Bridget Jones’s obsession with Daniel Cleaver was my life in my 20s. I used to be chasing after unhealthy boys and hooked on the drama, so it was utterly relatable. My associates and I had been in limitless informal relationships – and that is very Bridget too. Her courting life was the definition of the situationship, earlier than that was even a factor. However what I actually like is how she (finally) realises she deserves higher. She teaches us you will discover a Mr Darcy who loves you “simply as you’re” – even when he does put on reindeer jumpers and fold his pants earlier than mattress.

Yasmin: Bridget has given us the last word information to getting over a heartbreak: mendacity on the couch carrying outdated pyjamas and consuming ice cream out of the bathtub when you sob to All By Myself. In contrast to the Bridget of the early movies, as we speak’s 20-somethings aren’t incessantly checking for answerphone messages however we are responsible of a little bit of post-breakup stalking. Even when the tech is not the identical, early Bridget’s neurotic tendencies can nonetheless educate us that obsessing over somebody is never value it.

Sophie G: Bridget is not an ideal character, and that is OK. You have to be beloved for who you’re and never attempt to change your self to slot in with what society thinks you need to be – however studying to just accept that may be a arduous activity.

Hannah: At first, Bridget is the epitome of a girl who thinks she wants a person to outlive however by the top of the primary movie, she teaches us to worth good, respectful guys and to not tolerate individuals who cheat (although, admittedly, they should not have made Daniel Cleaver so sizzling!).

She additionally teaches us methods to work at a relationship, that love is a selection in addition to a sense, and methods to be susceptible and have boundaries on the similar time.

Sophie T: It comes again to not needing to vary your self in a society that pressurises us continually to be skinnier, taller, to learn extra books and be the perfect at hobbies. Having a personality with self-acceptance is so vital once we are continually being pressured to vary ourselves.

Yasmin: I like that Bridget embraces her chaotic vitality and that actually appeals to Gen Z. If she was a girl in her 20s now, she’d undoubtedly have fallen head over heels in love with the idea of brat summer season – as an alternative of Chaka Khan, she’d be blaring out Charli XCX’s 365 by way of her headphones on her morning commute.

Noor: Put on the large knickers. Consuming your complete contents of your fridge is OK generally. And do not be defeated by a foul hair day!

Yasmin: Bridget is not at all excellent – her calorie counting obsession feels dated and different characters branding a girl who weighs 60kg fats is jarring. Physique positivity could also be extra celebrated now – in truth, some ladies would love “a backside the scale of two bowling balls” – however being self-conscious about your look is a common feeling that transcends many years.

One factor I’ll say is that it is arduous to really feel too sorry for Bridget when she owns her personal flat in central London, has a profitable publishing and journalism profession and would not appear to fret concerning the worth of a spherical of drinks on the pub – all of it feels rather less reasonable now.

Noor: You may undoubtedly argue the sooner books and movies have not aged properly. Initially, there is a noticeable lack of variety, and manner too many sexist jokes. Then you definitely chuck in all that obsessing over being single, and Bridget’s fretting over her calorie consumption.

A lot of that feels misplaced within the context of the progress we have made now, however that is to not say it now not has relevance: certainly one of my associates is contemplating Ozempic and others nonetheless fear about why they’ve not met their dream companion as they swipe by way of Tinder and Bumble.

Sophie G: I believe if Bridget was created now, a few of these extra “problematic” parts of her character is likely to be modified however that might be a disgrace, because it’s a part of her attraction.

All of us say and do issues we kick ourselves for later. And most of Bridget’s extra problematic moments are the results of pressures ladies are subjected to in our society. The best way Bridget acts feels extra reasonable than some characters who’re the right feminist who offers with all the pieces in one of the best ways.

Noor: I do not assume I might’ve bought by way of the quite a few crises of my 20s with out having an in depth group of feminine associates round me, as Bridget does. These days, there are most likely fewer Friday pub journeys after work, and extra assembly up for yoga and spin, however the general message is identical: select your mates properly as they’re those who can be there when all the pieces else goes fallacious.

Sophie T: That friendship will at all times be there by way of the ups and downs of romantic life: to snort on the failures and be there to consolation you whenever you want it. Bridget’s interactions along with her associates are the identical as mine. We’re at all times catching up over a meal and drink to moan about life – although there’s rather less smoking nowadays.

Yasmin: End up associates that can eat your blue celery soup! As an alternative of going for drinks at a elaborate London bar and getting a black cab house, we regularly break up a bottle of low-cost Tesco wine at certainly one of our crammed and crumbly flats. However actually, it would not matter what you are doing, it is nearly having a supportive group of associates who can inform you when it is time to ditch your poisonous Daniel Cleaver-esque situationship.

Sophie T: Every time I am in a piece state of affairs the place I am assembly new individuals, I genuinely at all times image the scene from the movie the place Bridget’s making an attempt to introduce individuals to one another with a truth concerning the different individual and messes it up.

The long-lasting scene when she tells her boss Daniel she’s quitting has additionally at all times caught with me. Throughout occasions after I’ve needed to cope with sexism in my profession and have battled it head on, I might wish to think about R-E-S-P-E-C-T was taking part in within the background.

Noor: Do not ship emails earlier than proof studying, do not attempt to use language you do not perceive. Oh, and do not sleep together with your boss.

Sophie G: It is okay to strive one thing new and put your self on the market, no matter your age or the place you assume you need to be in your profession at a sure level. Bridget’s worry of public talking has undoubtedly resonated with me prior to now, however understanding I am going to by no means need to current in entrance of Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and Salmon Rushdie is a comforting thought.

Hannah: To be formidable and aspirational. A profitable profession is vital to a way of objective. You may make errors and work by way of them and you may make daring choices and take dangers.

Solutions have been edited for size and readability