Like many others,Hugh Grantwas surprised whenRenée Zellwegerlanded the role of Bridget Jones in the beloved film franchise.
In the new BBC Two documentaryBeing Bridget Jones, Grant, who played womanizing book publisher Daniel Cleaver in the rom-com films, reflected on Zellweger’s casting as the British lovesick thirtysomething, which was not well received at first.
“There was a whole scandal about why isn’t this a British actress?” Grant, 60, said of his former onscreen love, according toThe IndependentandVariety. “I didn’t know Renée Zellweger, and a Texan playing a British character, it did seem like a stretch.”
Grant said that while Zellweger’s first audition for 2001’sBridget Jones’sDiarywas “good,” he also found it “startling” due to its similarity to that ofQueen Elizabeth’s sister,Princess Margaret.
“She was told to kind of, well she thought she better loosen it up a bit,’ " Grant reportedly said of Zellweger, 51, adding that a week later her accent “was bang on.”
Renee Zellweger as Bridget Jones.Everett
The films were based on Helen Fielding’s s 1996 novel of the same name, which is a reinterpretation of Jane Austen’s 1813 novelPride and Prejudice.
In arecent interviewwith SiriusXM’sThe Jess Cagle Show,Grantopened up about his friendshipwith Zellweger, which has continued today.
“I love Renée, she’s one of the few actresses I haven’t fallen out with,“The Undoingactor said. “And we got on very well together and we still exchange long emails.”
Bridget Jones’s Diary - 2001.Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock
With fans still yearning for a fourthBridget Jonesfilm, Zellweger admitted back in January that “it would be fun” to portray the titular heroine once more.
“I know people are coy. I’m not. I promise I’m not. I just don’t know,” she said inVanity Fair‘s Hollywood issueof the chance of another movie.
“I mean, that’s a Helen [Fielding] question,but I hope she would want to,” theJudystar added. “I know she wrote a book, so maybe.”
source: people.com
