A decade and a half after Bridget Jones and her giant granny panties captured our hearts, the beloved character is returning to our screens for a fourth installment in her story, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.
While our love for the clumsily charming TV reporter has remained resilient, a lot has changed in 24 years, including the very cast we first came to adore.
In anticipation of the next film, we’re looking back at where the Bridget Jones’ Diary cast is now, who returns and who (sadly) isn’t.
Bridget Jones’ Diary Cast Now
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Renee Zellweger Now: Bridget Jones
It is hard to comprehend that any but Renee was considered to play Bridget Jones, but Nicole Kidman, Helena Bonham Carter, Cameron Diaz and Rachel Weiz were but a few big names to audition for the role. For 24 years, Renee has played the iconic character, returning once again to reprise the role. Since the franchise’s last film, Bridget Jones’ Baby, Zellweger has appeared in 2022 mini series The Thing About Pam and films Judy and Here And Now.
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Hugh Grant Now: Daniel Cleaver
Once Hollywood’s favourite leading man, known for his British charm, Grant’s career has taken a delightful pivot from classic rom-coms to darker, more devilish roles in recent years. Some of Grant’s most iconic roles in recent years have included Glass Onion, limited crime series The Undoing alongside Nicole Kidman, Dungeons And Dragons and most recently thriller, Heretic. In joyous news for fans Grant will also be reprising his role in Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.
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Colin Firth Now: Mark Darcy
Oh, Mr Darcy, you didn’t deserve your fate, but alas Bridget’s story must go on…with a younger, hotter man. Firth is confirmed to make a fleeting cameo in the upcoming film, but his time as the film’s leading man has come to an untimely end. Since the first film Firth has remained a constant on our screens, appearing in Mamma Mia!, Kingsman and mini series, The Staircase.
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Sally Phillips Now: Shazza
Iconic bestie of Bridget, Shazza, played by Sally Phillips has an exhaustive list of acting credits following her appearance in the first film, including a stint on Skins and more recently Queenie. Naturally, Shazza aka Sally, will be returning to support her BFF in the new Bridget Jones film.
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James Callis Now: Tom
Another of Bridget’s besties set to return for the fourth film is James Callis as Tom, but what has the actor been up to in between films? TV series Macgyver, 12 Monkeys and Slow Horses are among his acting credits.
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Shirley Henderson Now: Jude
Rounding out the friendship circle was of course, Jude, played by Shirley Henderson, also confirmed to return for Mad About The Boy. She iconically played Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films and also appeared in Wild Child and more recently The Mandalorian.