Pandora I am so excited about this one! Have booked my cinema for Thursday night and am listening on Spotify - but wondering if there is a video-version we can watch of the podcast or was that was just for the (brilliant) trailer?
Ah I thought that might be the case! Shame but very much enjoying the podcast and LOVED the film, which was SO enhanced by all the backstage facts I learnt from your podcast - though not sure my fellow cinemagoers were too impressed with my commentary !!
I dare to say every woman in the world has felt like Bridget at a certain point. The constant feeling of not being something, the confidence attacks, the vices, the wardrobe, the dreaming, the love and heartbreak... of course, she's an inspiration! She's made of bits from each of us :)
Totally! What Helen Fielding said when I interviewed her (or maybe it was Abi Morgan or Renée - I think they all said something to this effect!) was that the appeal of Bridget is that she is the gap between who we think we should be and who we actually are. Every woman feels like that! It might not be so surface level as Bridget (Renée is a master at the physical comedy) but the internal vs the external reconfigures for every generation. There’s a reason why Gen X, millennials — now Gen Z! — have adopted her as their own. I get that some of the earlier books have not aged well (the constant weight writing, which is never remotely high either — horrid to read now) but the idea that she is anti-feminist is pigswill. If anything, Fielding’s work (sending up the ‘smug marrieds’, maintaining a friend group of equally charming reprobates who refused to conform) was gently radical for the time. Even now, in the new movie, dating someone less than half her age; Fielding is careful for BJ’s life to never follow a predictable route (albeit within the confines of wealth, she was married to top barrister Mark Darcy after all!)
I am not sure the books have aged so poorly. We all say she should not be embarrassed by her weight, but the weight loss industry keeps on growing, and the supplements and the beauty routines have become something from another world. It might not be fancy to smoke as she did, but you see the vaping companies hooking up teens because it's cool. The "anti- feminism" keeps on existing, but not because people say it's not important, but because we (women) are sometimes tired of having to tell the world "we are worthy" F-Off! Of course we are!
When the Barbie movie came out and America Ferrera gave her monologue, I had many arguments with my partner because he thought it was too extreme. No matter how I tell him, he will never really understand what it means to be a woman, independent of the fact that men hurt, too (his point, with which I agree).
In Bridget's universe, I loved how imperfect she is and how weird her friends are (but loyal and caring, though sometimes they might give the worst advice... as happens in real life!)
About the half-age boyfriend... really, who cares? I saw my father dating much younger women while I grew up, and no one told him it was "something to think about." Well, my mum did, but that's another story. :)
From a marketing POV, there’s something really in these companion pods, isn’t there! I wonder if more movie studios are going to make them… strangely I’ve made two in the last 3 months (one for Disney+ back in October). The moving parts can be trickier than a usual pod (relies on talent and publicist which is a very diff beast to editorial! And access changes daily) but they’re certainly press-baity.
This is the perfect companion to the new film :) I watched the first Bridget movie when I was too young to understand much about it. However, as I got older I've revisited it many times (and it never fails to make me laugh because I now can relate to her struggles. And also how could we fall for all the gaslighting about Bridget being overweight or unattractive in any way??? Like you I can't imagine any other actress but René playing Bridget - she is perfect just as she is.
She wears all the critique so lightly, as well. She’s keeps herself so removed from it. Which I think you would absolutely have to do to stay sane after a quarter of a century of it!
This sounds *perfect*. I loved your reality tv podcast with Sirin but I'm even more excited for this. I've adored Bridget since finding solace in Helen's Independent columns back in the 90s. First two downloaded already!
I wish I had been of an age to read the columns, before the books - I'd have loved to have born witness to the unfurling cultural phenomenon! The way Helen speaks about how much of it is based on her real life is just magic.
I love that you picked one of my favorite lines from Bridget Jones Diary as the title of your post…I just do…
Used regularly whenever anyone is dawdling… especially the dog!
There has literally never been a podcast more tailored to my entire personality!!!
Just listened to the first episode and it is a bloody delight. You have earned your honorary degree in BJ film studies. Expert in sharing your joy.
That is such a kind comment - thank you. I am so glad the nerdy research comes through!
Pandora I am so excited about this one! Have booked my cinema for Thursday night and am listening on Spotify - but wondering if there is a video-version we can watch of the podcast or was that was just for the (brilliant) trailer?
It wasn’t turned into a video, no, they just filmed it for social clips!
Ah I thought that might be the case! Shame but very much enjoying the podcast and LOVED the film, which was SO enhanced by all the backstage facts I learnt from your podcast - though not sure my fellow cinemagoers were too impressed with my commentary !!
I dare to say every woman in the world has felt like Bridget at a certain point. The constant feeling of not being something, the confidence attacks, the vices, the wardrobe, the dreaming, the love and heartbreak... of course, she's an inspiration! She's made of bits from each of us :)
Totally! What Helen Fielding said when I interviewed her (or maybe it was Abi Morgan or Renée - I think they all said something to this effect!) was that the appeal of Bridget is that she is the gap between who we think we should be and who we actually are. Every woman feels like that! It might not be so surface level as Bridget (Renée is a master at the physical comedy) but the internal vs the external reconfigures for every generation. There’s a reason why Gen X, millennials — now Gen Z! — have adopted her as their own. I get that some of the earlier books have not aged well (the constant weight writing, which is never remotely high either — horrid to read now) but the idea that she is anti-feminist is pigswill. If anything, Fielding’s work (sending up the ‘smug marrieds’, maintaining a friend group of equally charming reprobates who refused to conform) was gently radical for the time. Even now, in the new movie, dating someone less than half her age; Fielding is careful for BJ’s life to never follow a predictable route (albeit within the confines of wealth, she was married to top barrister Mark Darcy after all!)
I am not sure the books have aged so poorly. We all say she should not be embarrassed by her weight, but the weight loss industry keeps on growing, and the supplements and the beauty routines have become something from another world. It might not be fancy to smoke as she did, but you see the vaping companies hooking up teens because it's cool. The "anti- feminism" keeps on existing, but not because people say it's not important, but because we (women) are sometimes tired of having to tell the world "we are worthy" F-Off! Of course we are!
When the Barbie movie came out and America Ferrera gave her monologue, I had many arguments with my partner because he thought it was too extreme. No matter how I tell him, he will never really understand what it means to be a woman, independent of the fact that men hurt, too (his point, with which I agree).
In Bridget's universe, I loved how imperfect she is and how weird her friends are (but loyal and caring, though sometimes they might give the worst advice... as happens in real life!)
About the half-age boyfriend... really, who cares? I saw my father dating much younger women while I grew up, and no one told him it was "something to think about." Well, my mum did, but that's another story. :)
Yes to ALL of this!!!
As a writer, I can't wait to dive into all the details within this podcast. As someone who works in marketing full-time, commissioning this is genius!
From a marketing POV, there’s something really in these companion pods, isn’t there! I wonder if more movie studios are going to make them… strangely I’ve made two in the last 3 months (one for Disney+ back in October). The moving parts can be trickier than a usual pod (relies on talent and publicist which is a very diff beast to editorial! And access changes daily) but they’re certainly press-baity.
I could not be more excited for a podcast if I tried!!! Interviewing Bridget — what a dream! Huge congrats. 🤩
Thank you so much, Sarah!
This is the perfect companion to the new film :) I watched the first Bridget movie when I was too young to understand much about it. However, as I got older I've revisited it many times (and it never fails to make me laugh because I now can relate to her struggles. And also how could we fall for all the gaslighting about Bridget being overweight or unattractive in any way??? Like you I can't imagine any other actress but René playing Bridget - she is perfect just as she is.
She wears all the critique so lightly, as well. She’s keeps herself so removed from it. Which I think you would absolutely have to do to stay sane after a quarter of a century of it!
Doing God’s work here you are!!!
Hahaha who need a paramedic/ lawyer/ dentist when there is me making a podcast about Bridget jones?
I absolutely adore The Split. Just finished watching it here in NZ. And so excited for this.
Listened to the first episodes and LOVED every second of it 🥰
Cannot wait
This sounds truly epic, Pandora, what a job to have worked on! Subscribing now x
Oh cant wait!
The movie looks like its going to be fun and this podcast sounds exactly the same. Excited to tune in!
This sounds *perfect*. I loved your reality tv podcast with Sirin but I'm even more excited for this. I've adored Bridget since finding solace in Helen's Independent columns back in the 90s. First two downloaded already!
I wish I had been of an age to read the columns, before the books - I'd have loved to have born witness to the unfurling cultural phenomenon! The way Helen speaks about how much of it is based on her real life is just magic.
Me too .. remember reading the column in the Independent in 1995/6 ?? I felt seen (before that was even a phrase 🙈)
Hahahah just like the fact Daniel Cleaver was a fuckboi 20 years before that phrase existed (fuckwittage being the predecessor of fuckboidom)