Latest news with #MadAbouttheBoy
Los Angeles Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
2025 Emmy predictions: Best TV movie
The panel's lack of enthusiasm for this category expresses itself in a drastic falloff after the first three contenders, as different from each other as TV movies can be. 'Rebel Ridge,' the intense actioner with a should-be star-making performance by Aaron Pierre, is at No. 1. Tied for second are the fourth 'Bridget Jones' movie, rom-com 'Mad About the Boy,' and 'Mountainhead,' which Lorraine Ali calls a 'billionaire satire.' 'We all gripe about this category every year,' acknowledges Tracy Brown, 'but I think the toughest thing … is the range of projects it encompasses, from the more blockbuster-skewing 'Rebel Ridge' to the more firmly indie 'Am I OK?'. And we all need to be OK with that.' Kristen Baldwin sums up the frustration on the part of some panelists: 'Suggestion: Change the name of this category to Nontheatrical Movies. The concept of a 'TV Movie,' as we once knew it, is dead.' Still, Matt Roush sees something to celebrate at the summit, saying 'Mountainhead' 'feels like a front-runner on pedigree alone,' citing its writing and direction by 'Succession's' Jesse Armstrong, and its starry cast. 'This darkest of farces is also frighteningly timely.' 1. 'Rebel Ridge'2. (tie) 'Mountainhead'2. (tie) 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'4. 'Out of My Mind'5. 'The Gorge'6. 'G20'7. 'Am I OK?'
Perth Now
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Renée Zellweger would return to her iconic role as Bridget Jones if given the chance
Renée Zellweger would return to her iconic role as Bridget Jones if given the chance. The 56-year-old actress first brought Bridget Jones to life in 2001's Bridget Jones's Diary, reprising the role in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004 and Bridget Jones's Baby in 2016. She has now told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I keep my fingers crossed that (author and Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding) might want to share some more of her own experiences through the world of Bridget.' Bridget originally appeared in newspaper columns for London's Independent before blossoming into a bestselling novel series and then a film franchise. Renée added about where the movie series is at: 'My understanding was that this was kind of it, but I keep my fingers crossed that she might want to share some more of her own experiences through the world of Bridget.' Mad About the Boy expanded the Bridget Jones universe by introducing new characters, including Chiwetel Ejiofor's Scott Walliker, a teacher at Bridget's children's school, and Leo Woodall's Roxster McDuff, Bridget's younger love interest. At the February New York City premiere for Mad About the Boy, Renée reflected on the supposed end of the franchise, telling People: 'We've been forging this friendship for over 25 years together through this journey, shared journey, Bridget Jones' journey. 'It was both wonderful and really sad.' On whether the film marked Bridget's final appearance, she added: 'That's what I understand. That's what Colin (Firth) said.' Helen, now a parent to teenage girls herself, explained the ongoing appeal of Bridget Jones to younger generations: 'There is a new audience for Bridget in amongst 15- to 25-year-olds, and it doesn't require neuroscience to connect that with the effect of social media. 'As a parent with a houseful of teenage girls, I know how reassuring it is to share the feelings around these things and to laugh together about the issues.'
Perth Now
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Renee Zellweger wants more Bridget Jones movies
Renee Zellweger is keeping her "fingers crossed" for more Bridget Jones movies. The 56-year-old actress - who has played her TV producer-and-reporter alter ego since 2001 - thought 2025's Mad About the Boy was the last film in the franchise, based on the novels by Helen Fielding. But the Hollywood star is hoping Helen will want to share more of her career, as well as family, friends and romantic relationships experiences through more books and, potentially, more films. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Zellweger said: "My understanding was that this was kind of it, but I keep my fingers crossed that she might want to share some more of her own experiences through the world of Bridget." Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy's director Michael Morris said more "chapters" would make sense, given Helen's children Dash and Romy are going to university. Morris said: "And look who we've got: Chiwetel Ejiofor in the world now, and we've got Leo Woodall in the world now. "We've got all these fantastic people and Helen's got her life, her kids are going to college. Let's hope for more chapters." Mad About the Boy follows Bridget's life as a widowed single mom after her husband Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) dies, but she confronts her grief with Mark in the form of a vision. And Renee admitted it was "impossible" to not cry in the scene where Bridget and Mark talk on the sidewalk outside the house because the "real-life journey" of sharing their love story with Colin was ending. She said: "That was, ''I'm not supposed to cry in the scene,' and it's impossible not to cry in that scene. "It was such a strange day seeing Colin there in his Mark Darcy finery. I had this moment of realisation that the real-life journey of sharing the Bridget and Mark Darcy love story with my friend was coming to an end. "It really felt like a profound moment thinking about the nearly 30 years we've shared in telling this story. Then I thought, 'Yeah, I don't want this to end. I love Mark and Bridget!' Agreeing that it was an emotional scene, Morris said: "What I love so much about your performance in that moment - it's critical actually for how we are setting up this particular story of this woman's journey on from her great love - is that while standing in the doorway, after experiencing all those feelings you just talked about, the character Jeremy (Neil Edmond) answers the door. "He is obviously upset on this anniversary of his friend's death, and it's Bridget who consoles him. It's Bridget who hugs him and says, 'It's OK.' "Then your voiceover comes in and we go into the scene as the audience is feeling this loss, and it's Bridget who is looking after us. "She's saying that this is what happened and, 'I'm OK.' "That's so Bridget in the way that you've made her over the years. When she wallows, she wallows. But for the rest of her life, she doesn't. "I found that a really wonderful way to begin. All of the sadness was there, all the nostalgia was there, all the yearning for the past. But you were really present: you Renée, you Bridget."
Metro
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Bridget Jones author claims she was repeatedly groped while working at BBC
The woman behind Bridget Jones has claimed she was groped repeatedly while working for the BBC. Helen Fielding, who penned the legendary 1996 novel Bridget Jones's Diary and spawned a multimedia franchise, joined the BBC as a researcher in 1979. After leaving the broadcaster, she worked as a journalist, where the idea for the Bridget Jones character began as an unattributed column in The Independent. From there, she became a novelist and penned several books, including three Bridget Jones novels—Bridget Jones's Diary in 1996, The Edge of Reason in 1999, and Mad About the Boy in 2013. The books became a major film franchise, with Renée Zellweger in the titular role of Bridget, starring opposite love interests Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. As a result, Helen, 67, is one of the biggest names in British publishing, but her latest story comes from when she was making her first steps in the industry. She joined the BBC at the age of 21, when, as she told the Soho Summit, workplace sexual harassment went unpunished across several industries and trades. 'I worked at the BBC when I was in my 20s, and you just got used to the fact that people would actually put their hand on your boob while they were talking to you about work,' she said, via MailOnline. Helen did not directly name any of her BBC colleagues in relation to her claims, nor did she directly accuse any other members of staff at the organisaiton. Describing groping as an everyday occurrence, Helen added that women her age were expected to 'put up with' harassment from older male colleagues. When contacted for comment, a BBC spokesperson told Metro in response to Helen's claims: 'We're sorry to hear of these experiences. Attitudes and behaviours have changed significantly in the last 40 years and the BBC—like the rest of society—is very different place now to what it was then.' Elsewhere, Helen also reflected on the industry as a whole and the era of Bridget Jones: 'I first wrote Bridget pre-#MeToo—and when I look at that film now, I can't believe that that stuff was going on,' she said of the male characters in the novel who harass Bridget on a daily basis. One such character, who makes it into the 2001 film adaptation, is Bridget's leering boss, Mr. Fitzherbert, whom Bridget refers to as 'Mr. T**spervert'. Speaking about the movie industry today, Helen argued that, while they might be better disguised, the same attitudes remain from the 1970s and 1980s. More Trending 'You still have to fight much harder as a woman, even a successful woman, and you get treated in ways that men would not be treated. And there's no denying that it is still going on and it needs to change.' Helen's first novel was a 1994 satirical story titled Cause Celeb, which was based on the relationship between celebrities and refugees in a fictional East African country. Aside from the Bridget Jones novels, she also penned the 2003 comic spy book Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination, which tells the story of a woman following a man she believes to be a terrorist. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Xzibit reveals $1,000,000 reason he rejected Pimp My Ride return MORE: Disgraced BBC star Huw Edwards 'refuses requests to return £200,000 he was paid after arrest' MORE: 'I wrote huge songs with popstars at their lowest points but turned down millions'
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
I'm a Bridget Jones superfan. Inspired by her latest movie, I travelled to London to follow in her footsteps
On a recent spring night in London's bustling Borough Market, I gazed in awe at a space I had seen many times before but only on screen: the living room that once belonged to Bridget Jones, one of my all-time favourite movie characters. On the table in front of me sat a coupe of blue 'soup,' a nod to Bridget's revolting first course from the hilariously botched birthday dinner she cooked for her besties. However, the culinary creation I sipped on wasn't soup at all but a frothy, blue cocktail, which, unlike its ill-fated inspiration, tasted downright divine. Sweet, coconutty and irresistible, Bridget's Blue (Soup) is a bestseller at Khao Bird , a Thai food hot spot with a hip yet cosy vibe. But for guests like me, the restaurant is best known as Bridget's beloved flat from her singleton days. Khao Bird is a Thai food hot spot located in Bridget Jones's former living room. I've been a superfan of Helen Fielding's charming, relatable protagonist since she first stumbled into pop culture three decades ago — long before the phrase ' set-jetting ' was coined to describe the current trend of travellers flocking to film locations. So when I learned that Renée Zellweger's fourth reprisal of this iconic character would be released in theatres in only a few countries, including England, London was calling. A Bridget-themed trip was the perfect excuse for a girlfriends' getaway, so I invited my dear friend Silvia, and we set out to follow in the footsteps of the rom-com heroine I've practically grown up with. Toasting to Bridget with a cocktail named in her honour, right in her former living room, was the ideal opening scene for our trip. Named after a hilariously botched dish, Bridget's Blue (Soup) is a bestseller at Khao Bird. On our first morning, Silvia and I caught a showing of 'Mad About the Boy,' expecting a lighthearted chick flick. Instead, I found myself in tears multiple times. The film deftly portrays poignant themes of loss and identity while Bridget navigates a life chapter I'm also enmeshed in: the middle-age challenges of juggling parenting, work and love in a world that sometimes mistakes us for grandparents. But there were plenty of laughs, too, and seeing the London landmarks we were also glimpsing in real life added an extra thrill. After the movie, we returned to Bridget's old neighbourhood for a late lunch at Bedales of Borough . Nowadays, it's an upscale wine bar. But for Bridget fans, it's better known from the first film as the Greek restaurant where the hysterical (and mostly unchoreographed , I later learn) brawl breaks out between her love interests: upstanding lawyer Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant's Daniel Cleaver, the publishing playboy. In true Bridget style, Silvia and I enjoyed a leisurely, boozy afternoon of girl talk over bubbles and bites, while watching the crowds walk past the window that Mark and Daniel had famously crashed through. (Another fun fact I soon learn: It was sugar glass.) We resumed our Bridget-inspired exploration the next morning, joined by another dear friend, Johanna, who happened to be in town. This time, we enlisted an expert from the award-winning Brit Movie Tours to lead us on a private walking tour of filming locations from all four Bridget Jones movies. (This summer, the company will also launch taxi tours specific to 'Mad About the Boy' locations.) Fiona Johnston, a guide with Brit Movie Tours, will lead travellers to filming locations from all four Bridget Jones movies. Our outstanding guide, Fiona Johnston, a lifelong Londoner, was a fellow superfan, and she and I were soon firing off quotes and cackling like hyenas. Johnston boasted an astounding breadth of knowledge about the films, including those fight-scene tidbits, and the lesser-known history behind certain sites. Outside the Clink Street flat that served as Daniel's sleek bachelor pad, she told us Zellweger's comedic timing helped her land the role over British actors. We also learned that the beautiful St. Clement Danes Church , where the memorial service from 'Bridget Jones's Baby' was filmed, is the central church of the Royal Air Force. Post-tour, two-and-a-half hours and nearly 12,000 steps later, I had a new-found appreciation for the films, the actors and London itself. From past trips (and living in the city's outskirts when I was a kid), I was already well acquainted with the most famous tourist attractions, like Big Ben and Kensington Palace. But this time around, I appreciated getting to know other areas, including Bridget's bustling neighbourhood, plus a few quieter, quirkier corners with their own stories to tell. Seeing it all in the spirit of Bridget — and alongside cherished friends — was the cherry on top. Writer Blane Bachelor, far right, with her friends on their 'set-jetting' getaway to London. On my last day, I took the tube to Hampstead, the tony north London neighbourhood featured prominently in 'Mad About the Boy.' I hailed a cab, and the driver, Kenny, also a fan of the movies after watching them with his girlfriend, whizzed me around to various locations that Johnston had written down, including Bridget's Victorian townhouse, which was being renovated for some lucky inhabitant. In Hampstead Heath , a park with rolling hills and knockout skyline views, I managed to find the 'magical man tree,' as Bridget calls it during a funny scene in which two handsome men magically appear to help her and her kids after they get stuck while climbing it. Instead of hugging it as Bridget did (I already have a magical man at home, thank you very much), I snapped a few photos of this unlikely tourist attraction — a seemingly ordinary, old oak tree — then made a mental note to spend more time in this delightful area on my next trip. The Light Bar, housed in a former Victorian power station, appears in 'The Edge of Reason.' For my final toast to Bridget, I headed that evening to the Light Bar , housed in a former Victorian power station in the trendy Shoreditch neighbourhood. The bar appears in the second film, 'The Edge of Reason,' during a scene when Bridget's friends convince her over drinks to dump Mark because it appears he's cheating on her. When I arrived, the bar was already packed with suited-up blokes clinking pints, and fashionable women laughing over wine. I managed to snag a prime corner table, but no relationship advice would be dispensed across it — I was all by myself. After ordering a cocktail, I peeked at my fellow patrons and felt a twinge of loneliness. Without my own trusty girlfriends, there was only one thing to do. I reached into my purse, pulled out my journal — rather, my diary — and started writing. Blane Bachelor travelled with some trip support from Visit London , which did not review or approve this article.
