Me and Miss Jones

American actress Renée Zellweger had to transform herself to bring to life the best-selling story of the very British Bridget Jones. She pulled it off spectacularly, writes Garth Pearce

Renée Zellweger does not look like the sort of woman who enjoys controversy. She is strikingly pretty rather than beautiful, blushes easily and likes to keep her blue eyes gazing at the pavement rather than looking towards the stars.

But she was prepared to put herself in the firing line to play Bridget Jones, in the film version of the fictional best-selling diary of a thirtysomething in the publishing industry who is riddled with insecurities about men, weight and work. She had the nerve to agree to a role that fans of the book declared should have gone to a Brit girl. And she agreed to put on 15lbs in weight, a prospect that would have had most Hollywood actresses fainting.

The result? A triumph. This is one of those movies which more than lives up to the novel, by author Helen Fielding, and has resulted, at the time of writing, in a deserved best actress Oscar nomination for Zellweger.

'I had to transform myself,' she says. 'I had elocution classes every day and had to think English and speak in an English accent at all times. I had a carefully controlled diet - lots of pizzas and cakes. It also meant a complete cultural change, from whistling Spice Girls songs at the weekends to shopping at Harvey Nichols.

'I was even able to get a job in the publicity department of Picador books. It was set up for me, in secret, to work there for a couple of weeks. I posed as someone seeking work experience in publishing and - I am delighted to say - was able to get away with it. I even attended a book launch, surrounded by journalists, without one of them recognising me. I knew that being chosen for the part would cause a fuss. It is like a favourite American role being played by a British girl. So I just put that to one side and got on with the whole thing my own way.'

Doing things her way included a risky move in 1993 to Los Angeles from her home in Texas, following a slender acting career and a degree in English literature from the University of Texas.

The high point had been an appearance as a white trash character called Starlene in the film Love and a 45. Since there was little sign of improvement, she earned money working in bars. 'I cleaned up after young Hollywood, carrying cases of beer and stocking up the freezer,' she recalls. 'I could just about pay the rent in a grungy little one-room apartment.'

But her big break was not far off. Zellweger was cast opposite Tom Cruise as single mother and Girl Friday Dorothy Boyd, ahead of Winona Ryder and Bridget Fonda, in the film Jerry Maguire. 'My life changed in one day, from that moment onwards,' she reports.

She has since had a high-profile romance with Jim Carrey, after working with him in the film Me, Myself & Irene. She now laments the end of the affair, Bridget-like, and, rather sadly, has also shed the weight that made her potrayal so realistic.

But there is no doubt that Zellweger is a natural charmer. Before our interview, we met socially at a party with a group of international film company executives. She listened very carefully to their country of origin, before addressing them all: 'I have an affiliation to every one of you,' she announced. 'I have lived in London, my grandmother is Finnish, my first love was from South Africa, Dad is from Switzerland and I have an Italian uncle.' Then, turning to the representative from Israel, who looked disappointed to be left out, she added helpfully: 'I also played a Jewish woman in the film A Price above Rubies - and loved it.'

It was a wise choice to put a distance of 5500 miles between herself and her Los Angeles home, since Bridget's thoughts on life seem light years away from the Californian culture. Drinking Chardonnay by the gallon, smoking cigarettes by the pack and bingeing on mince pies or doughnuts is quite a contrast to the non-stop sipping of mineral water, no smoking in public places and the stick-thin mentality of a lettuce-leaf diet.

'It's easy to imagine the emotions of Bridget, wherever you're from,' she reasons. 'What woman over 30 isn't concerned about the same things - men, body-image, work and relationships? I know I am.' 

Fielding work

When Bridget Jones creator Helen Fielding first thought of her diary, little did she realise what a thirtysomething icon she'd unleash on the world. Fiona Morrow

Having given up a promising career in television to write her first novel, Cause Celeb, Helen Fielding found book number two more of a challenge. 'I was trying to write this satire,' she explains, 'about the Caribbean, and I was more than a bit broke.'

She tried to break into journalism but became dispirited by the endless rejections. Finally, her publisher suggested she write a column about herself, The Independent newspaper snapped it up and, as Fielding puts it, 'It just snowballed from there.'

Fielding had tapped a nerve: growing numbers of financially independent, apparently successful thirtysomething women were drawing the short straw in other areas of their lives. 'If Bridget is popular it's because she lives in a state of nameless dread,' says Fielding. 'She thinks everyone knows how to live their life except her - what she doesn't realise is that lots of people feel the same. There's a little Bridget in us all.'

But while the phenomenal success of Bridget Jones has brought her fame and a considerable fortune - she now owns an expensive Los Angeles home - Fielding says her life is anything but ordered.

'Once I was only a rather disorganised journalist,' she says, 'now I'm someone frantically trying to be on time for appointments all over the world.' She laughs, adding 'I guess I'm more like Bridget now than ever.'

She is full of praise for the way Bridget has translated to the silver screen. 'Renée has Bridget's innate sweetness,' she comments. 'Also, I think it was very sporting for a Hollywood actress to put weight on for a movie and then be filmed in her knickers.'

The pants may have been a bit big, but Fielding wouldn't have minded stepping into Zellweger's shoes. 'I must admit I was jealous when Renée got to snog Hugh and Colin,' she laughs. 'But then, it is impossible to choose between them, so you'd just have to have both!'