Bridget Jones has been a beloved fixture in popular culture for 25 years, and fans remain eager to know everything about its cast. This weekend, BBC One marks the anniversary by broadcasting the first of three Bridget Jones films, starting with Bridget Jones's Diary on Saturday, August 8, at 10:20 pm.
The screenings continue with The Edge of Reason and Bridget Jones's Baby on Sunday and Monday at similar times. However, the fourth and final instalment, the 2025 film Mad About the Boy, will not be shown on Tuesday evening as some might have anticipated.
Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones
Renée Zellweger, who portrays the iconic and relatable singleton, was a contentious casting choice at the time, as Bridget is an English woman while Zellweger is from Texas. The 57-year-old put considerable effort into perfecting her English accent. Ahead of Mad About the Boy, she explained: "I had a lot of help...I just came to learn how specific all of the dialects are. It's not unlike in America, regionally...there's a hundred from different regions, even from within the same state. We worked three times a day, everyday...I found it really challenging this time because we didn't have as much time to live here on the schedule. This time it was bam, go. It was process and practice."
Zellweger went on to star in the musical Chicago alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere the following year. Since then, she has featured in films including Miss Potter, Leatherheads, and Judy, the biopic about Judy Garland. She has also appeared in series such as What/If, The Thing About Pam, and Only Murders in the Building.
Colin Firth as Mark Darcy
Colin Firth, who plays the awkward yet endearing Mark Darcy, is no stranger to television and film. His credits include Love Actually, The King's Speech, the Kingsman franchise, Young Sherlock, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. He also took on a darker role in HBO's true crime drama The Staircase in 2022 alongside Toni Collette.
Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver
Hugh Grant, who portrays the lovable rogue Daniel Cleaver, has also been pushing into darker territory recently, with the horror film Heretic and the thriller The Undoing alongside Nicole Kidman. While perhaps best known for romantic comedies like About a Boy, Notting Hill, and Love Actually, he has also appeared in the Paddington franchise, Florence Foster Jenkins, and The Gentlemen.
Shirley Henderson as Jude
Shirley Henderson, who plays Bridget's friend Jude, is best known for her role as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter franchise. Her other credits include T2 Trainspotting, Agatha Christie's Marple: Murder is Easy, Summerwater, and the 2025 film I Swear. According to her IMDb page, she is set to appear in a comedy titled Love is Not the Answer alongside Liam Neeson, Jamie Dornan, and Pamela Anderson.
James Callis as Tom
James Callis, who plays Bridget's one-hit wonder 1980s artist friend Tom, has notable roles including Athan in 12 Monkeys, the voice of Alucard in Castlevania, Simon Hardwick in Blood and Treasure, and Claude Whelan in Slow Horses.
Sally Phillips as Shazzer
Sally Phillips, who portrays Shazzer, takes on a more prominent role in the second film The Edge of Reason when Bridget finds herself in a Thai prison. Phillips appeared as Tilly in the BBC sitcom Miranda, Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and currently fronts her own BBC detective series, The Hairdresser Mysteries.
Jim Broadbent as Colin Jones
Jim Broadbent, who plays Bridget's father Colin, has enjoyed a diverse career, having portrayed Professor Horace Slughorn in the Harry Potter franchise, Archmaester in Game of Thrones, and Mr Gruber in Paddington, among others.
Gemma Jones as Pamela Jones
Gemma Jones, who plays the meddlesome Pamela Jones, is another Harry Potter alumna, having appeared as Madam Pomfrey. Viewers may also recognise her for her role as Connie James in BBC drama Spooks and Aunt Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack alongside Suranne Jones. Most recently, she played Rose Wright in BBC One's mystery thriller I, Jack Wright with John Simm.
Celia Imrie as Una Alconbury
Celia Imrie, who plays Pamela's closest friend Una Alconbury, continues to enjoy a flourishing career at 74. She has appeared in Calendar Girls, The Thursday Murder Club, The Diplomat, Keeping Faith, and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, among her most celebrated work.
