Do we like them?

Do we like Bridget Jones?

A character from Bridget Jones's Diary (1996–2025)

Our score: 8 out of 10. Yes, we'd back her. She's a mess in the most relatable way, and she's loyal, kind and brave enough to keep starting over.

Bridget is a London singleton in her thirties who starts a diary with New Year's resolutions: drink less, smoke less, lose weight and find a sensible boyfriend. She works in publishing, then TV. Her family and friends offer plenty of unwanted advice. The stories began as Helen Fielding's newspaper column and novels, and Renée Zellweger plays her in the films.

She is clumsy, anxious and prone to blurting out the wrong thing. She is also sincere, funny and honest about her flaws. She stands up for her friends and gets back up after every humiliation. The men in her life are a charming, unreliable boss and a stiff, decent barrister. Her real struggle is learning to value herself without needing someone else's approval.

We score her 8 out of 10. She is not a classic hero, but she is warm and brave, and she is never cruel. She makes mistakes, owns them and keeps her heart open. That makes her an easy character to back.