Shoreditch thrives on characters who bend the rules, shape culture and remind us not to take life too seriously. Today, one of London’s most beloved fictional Londoners joins that legacy in a new way. The brand-new Bridget Jones statue has been unveiled in Leicester Square, celebrating the woman who changed romantic comedy forever.
Two-time Academy Award® winner Renée Zellweger joined fans, cast members and creator Helen Fielding to reveal the sculpture — a permanent tribute to the big-knickered, chain-smoking, love-seeking heroine who defined an era of British storytelling. For London creatives and innovators, the moment feels bigger than nostalgia. It marks a celebration of imperfect brilliance, emotional honesty and the unapologetic humour that shaped a generation.
The Bridget Jones statue is the first rom-com figure to join the iconic Scenes in the Square trail. She now stands beside characters who span fantasy, adventure, comedy and British pop culture — from Harry Potter and Paddington to Mary Poppins and Wonder Woman. Bridget joins them not as a side note, but as a cultural heavyweight in her own right.
Why Bridget Still Matters to London
Bridget Jones arrived in 1996 like a cultural lightning bolt. She wasn’t polished. She wasn’t predictable. She swore too much, drank too much, overthought everything, and fell for the wrong men at exactly the wrong moment. But she also felt real — messy, smart, kind and profoundly human.
The 2001 film adaptation became a global sensation, rewriting what a romantic heroine could look like. She wasn’t the flawless lead of a curated love story. She was the woman you met after work for wine, the one stumbling through Soho in impractical shoes, the one with a diary full of hope and disaster in equal measure.
Her cultural influence is clear in the way London creatives approach storytelling today. We see it in the rise of character-driven films, in candid photography, and in the honest writing styles emerging from East London studios and workshops. As highlighted in our feature on London’s best creative hubs for artists and entrepreneurs, stories grounded in real emotion continue to shape London’s creative identity.
A Celebration in Leicester Square
The statue’s unveiling drew a crowd of fans and industry voices. Renée Zellweger stood alongside Sally Phillips, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Leo Woodall and director Michael Morris. The moment carried a sense of closure and celebration, arriving just after the success of Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, released in early 2025.
Zellweger noted that London has always felt like a second home. Helen Fielding called the statue a “huge thrill,” celebrating Bridget as “a British Icon” worthy of a place beside Mary Poppins and Paddington Bear. Together, they recognised that Bridget’s legacy is not just cinematic — it is emotional, cultural and deeply connected to the city.
This new installation becomes part of a free cultural trail, connecting locals and visitors with London’s film heritage. For Londoners who navigate the city’s creative spaces — from Shoreditch work studios to West End stages — the trail offers another lens through which to explore the capital’s artistic history.
Inside the Bridget Jones Statue Installation
The Bridget Jones statue stands in Leicester Square among characters who defined cinema over the past century. What makes Bridget’s inclusion significant is her genre. She becomes the first romantic comedy character featured on the trail, expanding a lineup previously dominated by fantasy, action and adventure.
The sculpture captures Bridget in her familiar mix of poise and chaos — imperfect, charming and entirely unfiltered. Her strength was never built on perfection, but on relatability. And that has always made her uniquely iconic.
The statue also arrives during the 25th anniversary year of the original film. With the franchise approaching nearly $1 billion in global earnings, Bridget’s story remains relevant. Her chaotic honesty continues to resonate with London’s creative communities.
This celebration mirrors the cultural playfulness highlighted in our guide to weekend markets in Shoreditch, where creativity blends with community energy.
Bridget and London: A Perfectly Imperfect Love Story
Bridget Jones belongs to London. Her adventures unfolded across its streets, offices and bars — from Borough Market to the City, from publishing offices to chaotic flats filled with heartbreak and hope.
Her humour, grounded in emotional truth, still echoes in the way London creatives write, paint, design and perform. She taught us that stories don’t need polish to be powerful. They need honesty, wit and a clear sense of place.
Her statue now stands as a reminder of that energy — the spark that fuels so much of East London’s creative output.
A Future Built on Creativity and Character
Scenes in the Square continues to evolve with new additions, celebrating characters who helped define London’s cultural landscape. By welcoming the Bridget Jones statue, the trail acknowledges the emotional power of storytelling — and the lasting impact of a heroine who stumbled, swore, loved and tried again.
For Shoreditch makers, designers, filmmakers and founders, Bridget remains an inspiring reminder: creativity thrives when it embraces vulnerability.
She is, in many ways, the patron saint of “just as you are.” And now, London has honoured that spirit in bronze.