SJM 0425 Zellweger_Dept 4 / 17 / 25 1 : 46 PM Page 4 Back in Fa miliar T r r i tor y play a character who means so much to muchanymore , she doesn’t smoke , she bit , to learn something different , develop people . I hope Bridget continues to inspire hasa better wardrobe because she’s some things , create a new show . I went to viewers to embrace life’s ups and downs movedup the career ladder — and new school , built some things , I spent time with a sense of humor and resilience . directorMichael Morris has taken that on exploring different things , learning dif - Coming back to Bridget always feels anotherstep . It’s an evolution she needs ferent things . like coming home for me . It feels so right . and it is that evolution that takes her to It’s a reunion with family and friends , like newplaces and experiences … and a few Didany offers nearly coax you back to this big , enormous hug . … It’s a no - oldones too ! Hollywood ? brainer . I don’t have to think for a second . No , none . I had been thinking about And this script felt so familiar too — I kind Isit true that in the last film there were a takinganother break for a while and that of felt like I knew it before I even read it . bunchof different endings ? was actually the reason I kept pushing it Yes , there were several different outcomes , back , because I was getting offers I What do you love about her ? becauseyou’ve got to work really hard couldn’t say no to . To me she’s perfectly imperfect . She’s self - thesedays to keep a secret . There were like When you talk about having more per - deprecating and humble . There aren’t sevendifferent scripts floating about and spective , is that on fame and the spotlight ? enough characters like her to relate to , I weshot three different endings , which it’s Not just that but on lots of elements think . I could be wrong . She’s inspiring in notsomething you do on every movie . But involved , the work and my relationship her misfortune and mistakes , we cheer youknow , cellphones and social media with the work . There are so many moving her on because they eventually turn into area problem to keep a secret . Also my parts . triumphs . I don’t think I’ve ever rooted for ownmouth too [ laughs ] . They know me a character more . well ; Sharon knew me [ laughs ] ! Areyou generally uncomfortable with fame ? Do you identify with her ? It’salways so great to have you back on That’s actually a good question . Yeah . I Yes , I think everyone does . I think there’s a ourscreens after you prioritize spending don’t know . I’m so far removed from it all . little Bridget in all of us . I hope there is timeaway doing other things . Do you When I’m at home , when I’m in my life , because she’s such a great person . everthink during those years , I’m actu - that’s not a part of my life . It’s only when I I could imagine being really good allydone with acting ? step into it , that’s when it comes as a shock friends with her . She’s so fun and loyal and No , I was never done . It’s such a large , to me . genuine , really funny and you know , throw immensecreative part of my life — that in a few martinis , [ and ] the laughs would wasnever an option . Likewhen you’re recognized or photo - never stop [ laughs ] . graphed ? When you’ve been away for a while , are Yes , I’m still taken aback any time Bridget has changed and grown up , she’s youever nervous to be back on a set ? someonerecognizes me or stops me , it’s got a great job , a baby . She’s maybe not as There is always a scariness to returning — a neverbecome a norm in my life . Which scatty , she’s more together . Were you bitof imposter syndrome : ‘ Now they’re mightsound naïve considering how long happy to see this transformation ? goingto find me out . ’ But I feel like maybe I’vebeen doing this job . But I still find it so We had to show that she’s matured , Ihave a little more perspective after being strangethat people take interest ; I don’t evolved , maybe become less naïve , per - awayfrom it for a while , which can only be thinkI’ve done anything that warrants haps a little wiser , but I’m very happy that agood thing . thatkind of attention . she hasn’t become jaded . You know , that can happen after a certain amount of Whydo you take such long breaks ? It’s Is it your time away that affords you such heartbreak and disappointment , so I was beensix years since your last movie , Judy , apositive outlook on being famous ? worried she might have lost her romantic , althoughyou did star in the NBC crime You’venever turned all rude and surly optimistic side , particularly with children dramaThe Thing About Pam . likethat horrible Hugh Grant [ laughs ] . thrown into the equation , but she is still as Itfeels right at the time . I had been Look , I know I’m lucky . Part of being sweet and warm as ever . She’s changed workinga lot for many years , committed famous is that I can go wild at the grocery and she hasn’t changed and I love that totwo or three projects at any given time . I storeand buy everything that I want . about her . needto take myself out of that cycle . I Idon’t have to watch the tab as closely In the last movie , [ director ] Sharon wanta break , to focus on other things in as I did in the days before I landed some [ Maguire ] really successfully altered who my life , to travel , to discover . properroles . I don’t need to bring cou - she was and reflected changes in her life Ultimately I just don’t want to ever find pons.And I don’t have to decide , ‘ Should I and physicality — you know she takes myselfdoing the same thing for 25 years eat today or take my dog to the vet ? ’ That better care of herself , she doesn’t drink as andgoing through the cycle of things over was my life before I became famous . and over again . I am always grateful for the Backto the film : If Bridget ‘ five ’ was an WITH CO - STAR CHIWETEL experiences and I was option , would you be game ? And where EJIOFOR IN spoiled rotten with wouldyou like to see her ? BRIDGET JONES : MAD thoseexperiences . That would be lovely . That could be fun . I ABOUT THE BOY Imean , wow , the lovethese people , so yeah , we’ll see . Self - things that I got to see ishly , I would love that so we could all have and do were amazing . anotherreunion . Yet I needed to do Andwhere would I like to see her ? It’s something for my per - notreally up to me , you’d need to ask n sonallife to grow a little HelenFielding [ laughs ] !