Helen Fielding has said Generation Z is reminiscent of the hero of her best-selling novels, Bridget Jones, because of how ‘insecure’ they are.
The author, 67, from Yorkshire, said she loves young Gen Z-ers because they remind her so much of her most famous fictional creation, who fans often find relatable because of her hang-ups with her body image and relationship foibles.
Helen described the new generation of fans as ‘very Bridget-y’ at the third annual Queen’s Reading Room Festival, which is currently being held at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.
Explaining why she thought this, she was quoted by The Telegraph as saying: ‘I think it’s because they identify with the insecurity, the body-image thing.
‘But at the same time they feel guilty about worrying about that because of body positivity, so they’ve got a double dose of that anxiety.’
Helen also compared the differences in what her character Bridget finds comforting – ice cream and Chardonnay – and what Gen Z turns to, which involves more health-focused products like protein powder and collagen.
However, she said that although the components of what Bridget and Gen Z indulge in are different, both are looking for ‘cosy’ ways to create a ‘little safe cocoon with their friends’ in order to deal with the world around them.
Helen found a new audience of fans with the release of the fourth Bridget Jones film in February this year, titled Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.
Helen Fielding (pictured), 67, spoke at the Queen’s Reading Room Festival at Chatsworth House and said Generation Z are ‘very Bridget-y’
The film, which saw Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, and Colin Firth all reprise their roles as Bridget Jones, Daniel Cleaver, and Mark Darcy respectively, was the first new movie in the series in nine years.
Helen previously said that the new generation of fans, in their 20s, have more body image problems than young women did 30 years ago; therefore, they can relate to Bridget’s character.
The novelist’s latest comments reflect Gen Z’s preference to ditch alcohol in favour of soft drinks at the pub as well as their heightened awareness of health trends.
A survey published earlier this year revealed that a quarter of under-30s (24 per cent) would choose a pint of Coke as their regular tipple.
If they were to pick an alcoholic beverage, 27 per cent said they would choose cider, while 18 per cent said they would order craft beer – these were the two most popular alcoholic beverages for young drinkers.
Another poll of 2,000 respondents, carried out by L&G, found that Gen Z are more likely to prioritise their physical health and to incorporate healthier habits compared to older generations.
It found that only 13 per cent of Gen Z identified as regular drinkers compared to 23 per cent across the general population.
Nearly a quarter of drinkers said they replaced alcohol with functional or wellness drinks. The figure rises to 45 per cent among 18 to 24-year-olds and 53 per cent among 25 to 34-year-olds.
Helen joined Queen Camilla in attending the festival, after Her Majesty joked about the ‘infamous scene’ of Colin Firth in the BBC’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (Helen is seen with Vicki Perrin)
Supermarkets have also reported a huge rise in demand for protein-forward products, driven by social media’s obsession with eating more protein because it is seen as ‘healthier’.
According to a national poll of 2,200 people, nearly half of UK adults increased their protein intake in the past year – the figure jumps to two-thirds among respondents aged 16 to 34.
Helen joined Queen Camilla in attending Her Majesty’s annual literary festival over the weekend and the royal greeted famous book lovers during a reception on Friday.
During the event, she made a joke about an ‘infamous’ Colin Firth scene from a TV adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice – saying it was unforgettable.
Camilla wore a black dress with white polka dots by Fiona Clare for the occasion, pairing it with low-heeled grey pumps.
She opted for a natural make-up look, and wore her blonde bob loose, with her tresses styled into gentle waves.
A famously voracious reader, the queen founded the charity after hosting a successful Instagram book club during the pandemic.
Friday’s reception, which marked the organisation’s third festival, fell on the 250th anniversary year of author Jane Austen’s birth.
The Bridget Jones novelist explained that Gen Z were like her beloved character because they ‘identify with the insecurity, the body-image thing’
Camilla was welcomed by Lord William Burlington, the chairman of The Chatsworth House Trust, who thanked her for ‘this amazing opportunity’.
While giving a speech to guests in the Painted Hall, the royal was applauded when she said: ‘It seems only fitting that, in the 250th year anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, we are reminded that this magnificent backdrop was her inspiration for Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice.
‘Who can forget the infamous scene of Mr Darcy emerging from the lake in the BBC version?’
The Queen then addressed Lord Burlington, and said: ‘Maybe, William, we can persuade you to re-enact the scene here to add to the excitement of the day?’
The 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen, was filmed at Chatsworth House.
Although Mr Darcy, played by Colin Firth, strode across fields dripping wet after a swim in the lake in the 1995 BBC version, there was no scene of him rising from the water as Camilla described.
The Queen added: ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that books make life better.
‘They allow us to see through another’s eyes, they comfort and encourage us, make us laugh, make us cry and free us to travel the globe without stepping outside our front doors.
‘As some of you may know, my Reading Room started humbly and, in the face of several naysayers, as a list of nine of my favourite novels scribbled on a notepad during the first lockdown.
‘It is now an online community of over 180,000, with an annual audience of 12 million people from 183 countries, supported by a very special array of literary and literacy friends.’
