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Renée Zellweger has praised the freshly installed statue of Bridget Jones as “endearing”, adding, “I think, she’s much cuter than me.”

The actress was talking as the recently revealed statue commemorating the beloved figure she portrayed for more than 20 years was presented in London’s Leicester Square on Monday.

Bridget Jones was introduced in 1996 by author Helen Fielding, and initially brought for the cinema in the early 2000s. The newest movie was released earlier this year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Fielding left open writing more, saying you should “always keep options open.”

Zellweger added that people everywhere can connect with Bridget, which explains her massive popularity.

“It’s her sensitivity, her authenticity,” she said. “We identify in her, we connect in her struggles.

“It gives permission for the others to be authentically who we are. Flawed.”

The persona of Bridget Jones touched many women’s hearts, who felt understood in her personal journey.

From her awkward work blunders, to her iconic granny pants, Bridget spoke to a age group who identified in her—and has attracted a whole new set of new admirers too.

The latest movie in the series, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was launched in February, and depicts Bridget portrayed as a widowed mom and tackling contemporary romance.

It garnered divided opinions, but achieved the best box office opening ever for a rom-com in the UK and Ireland, according to data.

The film was described as the final one in the franchise—but commenting at the statue unveiling, two dedicated followers, Faye and Wayne, said they were sure there would be a sequel.

“There are so many things that were left unresolved at the conclusion of the latest installment,” said Faye.

“Bridget keeps changing. I’d love to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the retirement home,” added Wayne.

When questioned about the prospect of a future story in Bridget Jones’ journey, Fielding said: “Anything is possible. Ideas come to you as a writer. So if a story was inspired that I thought was real and compelling and new then I would pursue it.”

Certain critics think the struggling and human heroine, who’s preoccupied by her body image and romantic situation, is not the ideal example.

And Fielding personally has acknowledged in the past that elements of the narrative feel dated.

“Bridget Jones’s Diary would not be created in the present day, placed in modern times, because all those workplace characters would be sacked,” she said last year. “That was a completely other era.”

But speaking on the unveiling day, she said she wished the wider message of the novel would remain relevant for readers.

“I think, to have the solace of observing a figure that you can connect with, because they are authentic and flawed and emotionally honest, it’s like having the friend you can be true with,” she said.

The statue is the inaugural to celebrate a romantic comedy on Leicester Square’s Scenes in the Square exhibit.

The Scenes in the Square display was introduced in recently with the introduction of multiple figures showcasing comedy legends, Mary Poppins, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Don Lockwood, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean and Wonder Woman.

Since then, sculptures of Harry Potter, the royal chair from Game of Thrones, Clifford the Big Red Dog and the adventurer have been included.