Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Coming Out at 13 April 2001 in theaters.
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Bridget Jones’s Diary is romantic comedy film directed by Sharon Maguire and written by Richard Curtis, Andrew Davies, and Helen Fielding. A co-production of the United Kingdom, United States and France, it is based on Fielding’s 1996 novel of the same name, which is a reinterpretation of Jane Austen’s 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice. The adaptation stars Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, a 32 year old single woman, who writes a diary which focuses on the things she wishes to happen in her life. However, her life changes when two men vie for her affection. Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, and Gemma Jones are featured in supporting roles. Production began in August 2000 and ended in November 2000, and took place largely on location in London and the Home Counties.
Bridget Jones’s Diary premiered on 4 April 2001 in the United Kingdom and was released to theatres on 13 April 2001 simultaneously in the United Kingdom and in the United States. It opened to positive reviews and massive box office receipts, grossing over $280 million worldwide. Critics praised Maguire’s direction, the screenplay, the film’s light hearted tone and Zellweger’s titular performance which garnered her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress (a rare feat for starring in a romcom). Over the years, it has been hailed as a cult film as well as part of the English Pop Culture with Bridget Jones being cited as a British Culture Icon.
The success of the film spawned a Bridget Jones franchise with two equally successful sequels being released, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), and Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016).
Director: Sharon Maguire
Writers: Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies, Richard Curtis
Stars: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones
Cast:
| Renée Zellweger | … | Bridget Jones |
| Gemma Jones | … | Bridget’s Mum |
| Celia Imrie | … | Una Alconbury |
| James Faulkner | … | Uncle Geoffrey |
| Jim Broadbent | … | Bridget’s Dad |
| Colin Firth | … | Mark Darcy |
| Charmian May | … | Mrs. Darcy |
| Hugh Grant | … | Daniel Cleaver |
| Paul Brooke | … | Mr. Fitzherbert |
| Felicity Montagu | … | Perpetua |
| Shirley Henderson | … | Jude |
| Sally Phillips | … | Shazza |
| James Callis | … | Tom |
| Charlie Caine | … | Handsome Stranger |
| Gareth Marks | … | Simon in Marketing |
| John Clegg | … | Elderly Man |
| Embeth Davidtz | … | Natasha |
| Matthew Bates | … | Kafka Author |
| Jeffrey Archer | … | Self |
| Patrick Barlow | … | Julian |
| Rebecca Charles | … | Receptionist |
| Honor Blackman | … | Penny Husbands-Bosworth |
| Dominic McHale | … | Bernard |
| Joan Blackham | … | Shirley |
| Lisa Barbuscia | … | Lara |
| Joseph Alessi | … | Interviewer 1 |
| Rhydian Jai-Persad | … | Interviewer 2 |
| Neil Pearson | … | Richard Finch |
| Paul Ross | … | Mr. Sit Up Britain |
| Stewart Wright | … | Stage Manager |
| Claire Skinner | … | Magda |
| Dolly Wells | … | Woney |
| Mark Lingwood | … | Cosmo |
| Toby Whithouse | … | Alastair |
| David Cann | … | Cameraman |
| Lisa Kay | … | Eleanor Ross Heaney |
| Sulayman Al-Bassam | … | Kafir Aghani |
| Donald Douglas | … | Mr. Darcy |
| Renu Setna | … | Mr. Ramdas |
| Emma Amos | … | Paula |
| Sara Stockbridge | … | Melinda |
| Sarah Alexander | … | Daniel Cleaver Lover |
| Steve Apelt | … | Launch Party Guest |
| Julian Barnes | … | |
| Amber Batty | … | Bride |
| Crispin Bonham-Carter | … | Greg |
| Stefan Booth | … | Drunken Man |
| Max Digby | … | Office Worker |
| Ray Donn | … | Journalist |
| Campbell Graham | … | Hamish |
| Christine Hewett | … | Guest at the Darcy’s |
| Ben Illis | … | Michael |
| Edmund Kente | … | Harry – Party Guest |
| Christopher Kouros | … | Chef Nikos |
| Rebecca Lock | … | Bridesmaid |
| Camilla Mathias | … | Journalist |
| Ben Peyton | … | Bridegroom |
| Salman Rushdie | … | |
| June Smith | … | Extra |
| Jimmy White | … | (archive footage) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia