"Bridget is authentically herself."

Renée Zellweger has explained the reason she returned to reprise her role of Bridget Jones after eight years away.

The Oscar-winning actress first portrayed the famous hapless romantic in the 2001 film Bridget Jones's Diary, returning in 2004 for Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason and most recently in 2016's Bridget Jones' Baby.

In an interview with British Vogue, ahead of new film Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, arriving in UK cinemas on Valentine's Day, the actor revealed why she's back for a fourth outing.

"I love her," she said simply to co-star Hugh Grant, aka Daniel Cleaver, who interviewed her for the piece. "And her story is not finished. As long as Helen [Fielding] puts pen to paper, she’s alive. How much are we allowed to say about it?"

The Judy star also reflected on why she believes the films still hold such popularity and appetite from fans over two decades later.

"What I think is, don’t you meet a lot of people who say, 'I am Bridget Jones!?'," she said. "I think maybe folks recognise themselves in her and relate to her struggles and feelings of self-doubt.

"Bridget is authentically herself and doesn’t always get it right, but whatever her imperfections, she remains joyful and optimistic, carries on and triumphs in her own way."

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is based on author Helen Fielding's book of the same name that was released back in 2013.

Those unaware of the book's plot can expect to find Bridget in London and single again, after the tragic death of long-time love Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) four years prior.

Bridget's not alone though, she's now mother to 9-year-old Billy and 4-year-old Mabel and as ever can rely on her "Urban Family" – Shazzer, Jude and Tom (played respectively by Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson and James Callis) – for support.

Then there's work colleague Miranda (Sarah Solemani) and gynaecologist Dr Rawlings (Emma Thompson), introduced in the third film, who have remained close to Bridget in the years since.

"Now juggling work, home and romance, Bridget grapples with the judgment of the perfect mums at school, worries about Billy as he struggles with the absence of his father, and engages in a series of awkward interactions with her son's rational-to-a-fault science teacher," teases the official film synopsis.

Also appearing in the fourth adventure are Doctor Strange's Chiwetel Ejiofor and One Day's Leo Woodall as Bridget's two new love interests. And most importantly of all, Hugh Grant returns to reprise his role as Daniel Cleaver after not appearing in the third film due to script issues.

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