Renée Zellweger turned 55 on April 25, 2024—a milestone often attached to headlines about her return as Bridget Jones. The timing also brought renewed attention to her relationship with Ant Anstead, her temporary work base in London and the fourth film in the franchise, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.
That headline needs one important correction: Zellweger is not currently 55. The age refers specifically to her 55th birthday in 2024. The London connection was tied to filming, not evidence that she permanently relocated there.
Why Renée Zellweger’s 55th birthday became a Bridget Jones story
Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, according to her Golden Globes profile. She turned 55 on April 25, 2024, when production was underway on the fourth Bridget Jones movie.
The milestone was especially notable because Zellweger’s career has been closely linked to Bridget Jones for more than two decades. She first played the character in Bridget Jones’s Diary in 2001, returned for Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004 and reprised the role in Bridget Jones’s Baby in 2016.
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Her filmography extends well beyond the romantic-comedy series. The Golden Globes also highlights performances in Chicago, Cold Mountain and Judy, the latter earning her the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Judy Garland. But Bridget remains the role that has followed Zellweger across multiple stages of her career.
What happened with London and Ant Anstead?
Filming for the fourth movie took place in London during 2024. Film London described the production as featuring Zellweger’s return as Bridget, now in her fifties, widowed and raising two children.
Contemporary reporting, citing a People source, said that Ant Anstead would temporarily relocate to London while Zellweger filmed. Anstead was also reported at the London premiere of the finished film. Those details support describing London as a temporary work base connected to the production—not as proof that the couple permanently moved there.
Zellweger and Anstead have generally kept their relationship private. Reports have described Anstead as her partner or boyfriend, but the available information does not establish that they are married or engaged. Likewise, a later report about Zellweger’s living situation does not verify a permanent London residence. Hello! Magazine’s account is therefore best read as an update about her arrangements, not confirmation of a precise home base.
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In short, the defensible version is simple: Zellweger spent time in London for work, and Anstead was reported to have joined her there temporarily. There is no reliable basis for identifying a private address or claiming that London is her current primary residence.
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy: story and cast
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy moves the character into a substantially different stage of life. Bridget is a widow raising two children after Mark Darcy dies while on a humanitarian mission in Sudan. She is balancing parenting and work while cautiously considering whether to date again.
The film’s romantic complications include a younger man and awkward encounters with her son’s science teacher. The setup retains the franchise’s comic discomfort while giving Bridget responsibilities and emotional history that were not part of the earlier films in the same way.
Universal’s official synopsis confirms the central premise and the two new romantic possibilities. The principal cast includes:
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- Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones
- Hugh Grant
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Leo Woodall
- Jim Broadbent
- Gemma Jones
- Colin Firth
The official trailer credits Michael Morris as director and Helen Fielding, Abi Morgan and Dan Mazer as screenplay contributors. Colin Firth’s presence connects the new film to the earlier Mark Darcy storyline, while Hugh Grant returns to the world of the series as well.
When was the fourth movie released?
Working Title lists February 13, 2025 as the film’s release date. In the United States, it was released on Peacock on that date as a Peacock Original. The film also received international theatrical distribution, so the viewing route depended on the country.
For viewers who want to own the film rather than rely on a streaming catalog, Universal Pictures At Home lists several formats, including Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy DVD, Blu-ray + Digital and digital purchase options. Availability and pricing can vary by country and retailer.
Fans discovering the series through the fourth film can also look for the Bridget Jones complete 4-film collection, which Universal lists as a DVD set. It includes the original trilogy and Mad About the Boy.
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Is the film based on a book?
Yes. The movie is based on Helen Fielding’s novel Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, but the book and film are separate works. The publisher’s page for Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy novel identifies the source text.
Readers should not assume that every plot detail or adaptation choice is identical. The novel is a useful companion for anyone interested in how Fielding continued Bridget’s story on the page, while the film is a screen adaptation shaped by its credited writers and director.
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How the new film fits Zellweger’s career
Zellweger’s return is more than a franchise cameo. The role has been reworked around a protagonist who is older, widowed and responsible for children, allowing the series to examine a familiar character after the conventional romantic-comedy ending.
That evolution also explains why the age milestone became part of the story. Zellweger was 55 during the production period and the surrounding publicity, but the film itself is not a biography of the actress. Bridget’s age, widowhood and family life belong to the fictional character; reports about Zellweger’s private relationship and residence should not be treated as extensions of the plot.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe contrast is part of what makes the retrospective useful. Zellweger’s work includes award-oriented dramas and musical performances, but Bridget Jones provides a continuing comic identity that audiences can revisit at different points in the actress’s life. The fourth film uses that familiarity while changing the character’s circumstances.
What is confirmed—and what is not
| Claim | What the available evidence supports |
|---|---|
| Zellweger turned 55 | She turned 55 on April 25, 2024. That is a dated milestone, not her current age indefinitely. |
| She lived in London | She was temporarily based in London while filming the fourth movie. |
| Anstead moved to London permanently | Reporting described a temporary relocation connected to filming; permanent residence is not established. |
| Zellweger and Anstead are married | The supplied reporting supports “partner” or “boyfriend,” not “husband” or “fiancé.” |
| The fourth film is available everywhere on Peacock | Peacock was the U.S. release platform. International availability and current catalog status depend on territory and date. |
The documentary-style takeaway
The most accurate way to view the story is as two timelines crossing each other. In Zellweger’s professional timeline, her 55th birthday coincided with production on a new chapter of the role that made her a global romantic-comedy star. In Bridget Jones’s fictional timeline, the character has become a widow and parent who must rebuild a life rather than simply choose between two suitors.
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London belongs primarily to the first timeline: it was where the film was made. Ant Anstead’s reported temporary presence there is part of the production-era personal context, but not evidence that the couple established a permanent life in the city. The lasting public record is the film itself, released internationally in 2025, and Zellweger’s continued connection to Bridget Jones.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Renée Zellweger turn 55?
Renée Zellweger turned 55 on April 25, 2024. Her birth date is April 25, 1969.
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The available reporting supports only that London was a temporary work base while she filmed Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, with Anstead reportedly relocating there temporarily. It does not establish a permanent London residence.
What is the fourth Bridget Jones movie called?
The fourth film is Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. It was released internationally on February 13, 2025, with the U.S. release arriving on Peacock.
Is Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy based on a novel?
Yes. It is based on Helen Fielding’s novel of the same name, although the book and film are separate adaptations of Bridget’s story.
Where can viewers own the new Bridget Jones film?
Universal Pictures At Home lists digital, DVD, Blu-ray + Digital and a complete four-film DVD collection. Exact availability varies by country and retailer.
The Bottom Line
Renée Zellweger’s 55th-birthday headline belongs to April 25, 2024, when she was also returning to London to film Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy. Ant Anstead was reported to have joined her temporarily, but there is no verified basis for saying the couple permanently moved to London. The fourth film, released in 2025, updates Bridget Jones as a widowed mother while preserving Zellweger’s defining connection to the character.
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