How "Bridget Jones's Diary" appeared: the secrets of creating the novel and its adaptation

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Bridget jones became a cult heroine of the early XXI century, and her creator Helen Fielding - a world famous writer. 20 years after its appearance, the novel not only has not lost its relevance, but also found a continuation in literature and cinema. Although initially no one could have imagined that the author's column in the magazine could grow into something more …

In the 1990s. Helen Fielding was a journalist and columnist for several publications. By the time Bridget Jones's Diary was created, she already had literary experience: the first book, The Reason for Success, was published, which, contrary to the title, was not very popular, Helen Fielding was working on the second work. At this time, she was offered to write an author's column in The Independent, on her own behalf, describing the lifestyle of a 37-year-old unmarried wealthy Londoner who lives for her own pleasure, meets with friends, relaxes in pubs, and has affairs with men.

Helen Fielding did not like the idea of autobiography, and she decided to create a fictional, comically exaggerated character, on whose behalf she would conduct her column. According to her plan, it was supposed to be an ironic parody of her peers and compatriots, who are always on diets and are not able to put things in order in their own lives. So Bridget Jones was born.

The first column by Bridget Jones appeared in the Sunday supplement "The Independent" on February 28, 1995. It was planned to complete the publication of this diary in a few issues. However, after the very first issues, the charming and funny heroine became the idol of millions of women. Sacks of letters began to arrive in the name of the author of the column. Soon Helen Fielding was asked to make a novel out of these columns. The book is based on the plot of one of the most popular novels of the 19th century. - "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.

The first edition of Bridget Jones's Diary in 1996 was swept off the shelves within days. About 4 million copies were sold, and in the United States alone, publishers earned more than $ 100 million on sales of the novel. The filmmakers offered the author to sell the rights to the film adaptation of the book, but she herself wanted to participate in the creative process, worked on the script and took part in the selection of the actors.

There were suggestions that Helen herself played the main character, but the producers insisted on inviting a famous actress. Many stars dreamed of this role: Emily Watson, Rachel Weisz, Cameron Diaz were auditioned. Kate Winslet seemed like the perfect candidate, but the writer rejected her because she was too young - at that time the actress was 25 years old.

Ultimately, Renee Zellweger was approved for the role of Bridget Jones. For the sake of this work, she gained 13 kg, and before filming began, she worked for a month in one of the English publishing houses in order to better get used to the image. With her partners in the film Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, she quickly found a common language, but the men did not get along with each other - they constantly made fun of each other. However, it was in the director's hands, as the characters looked even more convincing. The film grossed $ 280 million, and Renee Zellweger was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Brigin Jones.

In 1999, Helen Fielding released a sequel to the novel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Soon a film adaptation was released, for which Renee again had to gain more than 10 kg. The film grossed $ 260 million, although, according to critics, it was inferior to the first part. Recently, Helen Fielding's third book about Bridget Jones was released, in which the main character appears as a 51-year-old widow and a single mother.

Renee Zellweger was not the only actress who ventured into dangerous experiments with her own body for a movie role: stars who were not afraid to lose their ideal figures for the sake of the desired roles