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Renée Zellweger has called the new statue of Bridget Jones as “endearing”, adding, “Personally, it’s far more charming than me.”

The actress was speaking as the new statue honoring the character she embodied for many years was uncovered in London’s Leicester Square on the start of the week.

Bridget Jones was introduced in the mid-1990s by author Helen Fielding, and initially brought for the movies in 2001. The newest movie came out this past February.

Commenting at the unveiling, Fielding refused to rule out continuing the series, remarking you should “avoid closing doors.”

Zellweger added that audiences can see themselves in Bridget, which explains her huge appeal.

“It’s her openness, her authenticity,” she said. “We recognise ourselves in her, we recognise ourselves in her challenges.

“It makes it OK for the others to be genuinely who we are. Real.”

The character of Bridget Jones went straight to many female hearts, who found solace in her trials and tribulations.

From her embarrassing work blunders, to her iconic granny pants, Bridget connected with a age group who found a mirror in her—and has gained a fresh wave of Gen Z followers too.

The fourth film in the series, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was launched in early this year, and shows Bridget living as a single mother and tackling contemporary romance.

It received mixed reviews, but secured the best cinema debut ever for a rom-com in the British Isles, according to industry sources.

The film was promoted as the conclusion in the series—but speaking at the event, two dedicated followers, Faye and Wayne, said they were convinced there would be a sequel.

“There were so many things that were not wrapped up at the end of the latest installment,” said Faye.

“Her character keeps changing. I want to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the nursing home,” added Wayne.

When prompted about the chance of a future story in Bridget Jones’ journey, Fielding said: “The door is open. Ideas come to you as a writer. So if a narrative appeared that I thought was true and engaging and original then I would develop it.”

A few commentators think the struggling and flawed protagonist, who’s fixated with her weight and relationship status, is not the best inspiration.

And Fielding personally has noted earlier that elements of the narrative have not aged well.

“Bridget Jones’s Diary would be impossible to produce today, written in this era, because all those men in the office would be dismissed,” she said in the past. “That was a distinct period.”

But speaking on Monday, she said she hoped the wider message of the novel would still resonate for audiences.

“I think, to have the comfort of watching a character that you can relate to, because they are authentic and human and vulnerable, it’s like having the friend you can be true with,” she said.

The sculpture is the first to commemorate a romantic comedy on Leicester Square’s movie trail trail.

The Scenes in the Square trail was introduced in recently with the installation of multiple figures featuring Laurel and Hardy, Mary Poppins, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Don Lockwood, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean and Wonder Woman.

After that, figures of the wizard hero, the royal chair from Game of Thrones, the beloved dog and the adventurer have been included.