Bridget Jones, brainchild of Helen Fielding, became a lifeline for the regular Gen X woman in 1995 as the comfy antidote to heroin chic and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s sleek aesthetic that defined the era. Frazzled, awkward, and inept, Jones was funny and endearingly relatable.
The beloved heroine returns next week with Mad About the Boy, with Jones (once again played by Renée Zellweger) falling for 29-year-old Roxster (played by Leo Woodall). With a Gen Z love interest in the mix, it’s tempting to imagine what a twentysomething Bridget would be like today. How would her life look if she were navigating New York City (sorry, London) in 2025? One thing is for certain: when it comes to her New Year’s resolutions—lose 20 pounds, stop smoking, drink less, and find a sensible boyfriend—plus ça change …