Hugh Grant says he first found the idea of Renee Zellweger playing British character Bridget Jones was a ‘stretch’
It’s one of the most beloved rom-coms of all time.
But Hugh Grant says he wasn’t initially sure Renee Zellweger was right to play Bridget Jones, a British character based off writer Helen Fielding’s books.
The English actor, 60, admitted he first thought the casting choice was a ‘stretch’ while opening up for the new documentary Being Bridget Jones.
‘A stretch’: Hugh Grant wasn’t convinced Texan Renee Zellweger would play Brit Bridget Jones before they started working together of the 2001 rom-com Bridget Jones’ Diary. He’s seen in January 2020 above
‘There was a whole scandal about why isn’t this a British actress?’ Hugh said of 2001’s Bridget Jones Diary, per The Independent.
‘I didn’t know Renée Zellweger, and a Texan playing a British character, it did seem like a stretch,’ said Grant, who plays boss/suitor Daniel Cleaver in the original film.
But it turned out to be a recipe for success, as the film went on to gross $281.9million internationally.
Still, it took some time for Renee to perfect her act.
Things were ‘good’ to start, but Hugh said he was ‘startled’ at how much she sounded like Princess Margaret.
‘She was told to kind of, well she thought she better loosen it up a bit,’ Grant explained.
In character: ‘There was a whole scandal about why isn’t this a British actress?’ Hugh said of 2001’s Bridget Jones Diary, per The Independent . ‘I didn’t know Renée Zellweger, and a Texan playing a British character, it did seem like a stretch’
Blockbuster: But it turned out to be a recipe for success, as the film went on to gross $281.9million internationally
‘Then she came in and it was Princess Margaret having had a stroke. But a week later it was bang on.’
The actors would team up again for the 2004 sequel The Edge of Reason. Zellweger reprised the role again in 2016’s Bridget Jones’s Baby.
Earlier this year the Hollywood actress reaffirmed she would happily play the character again if a fourth movie was given the green light.
‘It would be fun, yeah,’ Renee told Glamour. ‘I know people are coy. I’m not. I promise I’m not. I just don’t know [whether a fourth film is in the works].’
Back at it: The actors would team up again for the 2004 sequel The Edge of Reason. Zellweger reprised the role again in 2016’s Bridget Jones’s Baby
‘I mean, that’s a Helen question,’ she said, referring to Bridget Jones’ author, ‘But I hope she would want to.’
‘I know she wrote a book , so maybe. I’m always the last to know. They’re already building sets, and they call me and say, “What do you think?”
‘It’s fun. It’s so much fun. Man, I’d love the experience of revisiting her. I love her. I just think she’s so much fun. She’s the best.
‘Sure, if I got invited to do that, that sounds like fun.’