Renée Zellweger is back as Britain’s favourite singleton in the fourth movie in the Bridget Jones series, which sees her widowed and enjoying a dalliance with a younger man.
For almost a quarter of a century viewers have followed her romantic exploits and unrequired crushes and alongside Bridget herself there has only been one constant – her best friends.
Her ride or dies Shazzer (played by Sally Phillips), Jude (Shirley Henderson) and Tom (James Callis) have been there for her through thick and thin and this installment is no exception.
With all the characters older but not necessarily wiser they encourage her to get back on the dating horse four years after the death of her husband Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).
Away from helping Bridget with her romantic woes the three actors who play them have very busy careers and all are well known to big and small screen viewers. Here is a reminder of where you know them from.
Sally Phillips plays Shazzer
Within the friend’s group Shazzer is possibly Bridget’s bestie and the two have been through a lot together – including Bridget being jaied in Thailand after Shazzer’s filng planted drugs on her in Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason.
Away from the fil franchise Sally is one of the best known comic acresses in the UK. She was already well known before the first Bridget Jones film thanks to her role co-creating, writing and starring in Channel 4’s sketch comedy show Smack the Pony.
In 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.
Since then she has appeared on the small screen in shows such as the Green Room, Miranda, Jam and Jerulsalem, Death in PAradise, Siblings and Zapped. She found US success with an appearance in Emmy winning TV show Veep.
On the big screen she has starred in Mean Machine, The Decoy Bride (which she also wrote), Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and My Happy Ending to name just a andful.
(Image: Getty)
Shirley Henderson plays Jude
Softly spoken Jude has had her own fair share of personal and professional crises throughout Bridget’s 24 years on screen but has still always managed to be there for her friend.
Portrayed by Shirley Henderson, the Scottish star first came to proimence thanks to her role in 1996’s Trainspotting.
Away from Bridget Jones she is highly in demand and a regular fixture on screens. on TV she has appeared in shows such as Doctor Who, Happy Valley, Jamacia Inn, The ABC Murders and The House Across The Street.
On the big screen she has appeared in hit movies including Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, in which she played ghost Moaning Myrtle.
She’s also appeared in 24 Hour Party People, Stan and Ollie, Greed and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
(Image: Getty)
James Callis plays Tom
The only male in Bridget’s friend’s group Tom has been basking in the glory of and living off the royalties of one hit record since she has known him, although in the latest installment we learn he is now also working as a life coach.
Actor James has focused mainly on TV work outside of the Bridget Jones movies garnering a huge fanbase thanks to his work on the sci fi drama Battlestar Galactica. He has also appeared in shows such as Merlin, Macgyver, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Star Trek Picard and Slow Horses.
Notable big screen outings include One Night With The King which saw him star opposite screen legend Peter O’Toole and Austenland.
(Image: Getty)