Helen Fielding: Gen Z is 'very Bridget Jones' due to insecurities

Helen Fielding, the 67-year-old writer from Yorkshire, told the third annual Queen's Reading Room Festival at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire that Generation Z reminds her of Bridget Jones because of their insecurities. "I think it's because they identify with the insecurity, the body-image thing," she said, describing a generation she said feels guilty about worrying about body positivity and thus carries a double dose of anxiety. Fielding noted that while Bridget Jones nourishes herself with ice cream and Chardonnay, Gen Z tends toward health-forward products such as protein powder and collagen, yet both groups seek a cozy, safe cocoon with friends to weather the world around them.

[Image: Helen Fielding at the Queen's Reading Room Festival](

The author’s remarks coincide with the release of Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, the fourth film in the series released in February this year, which Fielding noted brought a new, younger audience back to her beloved heroine. The film re-teamed Renée Zellweger with co-stars Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, marking the first new installment in nearly a decade. Fielding has previously highlighted that today’s 20-somethings face more body-image concerns than fans did three decades ago, fueling resonance with Bridget’s character and misadventures.

Her comments come as health and wellness trends shape consumer choices among Gen Z. A national poll of 2,200 people found nearly a quarter of under-30s would choose a pint of Coke as their regular tipple, while 27% would opt for cider and 18% for craft beer—underscoring a shift away from traditional ale toward soft drinks among younger drinkers. In parallel, an increasing share of young shoppers is pursuing protein-forward options as supermarkets report rising demand for health-heavy products. The notes indicate Gen Z’s appetite for protein and wellness products reflects broader social-media-driven trends promoting healthier lifestyles.

A separate poll of 2,000 respondents conducted by Legal & General highlighted Gen Z’s health focus relative to older generations. It showed only 13% of Gen Z identify as regular drinkers, compared with 23% of the general population. The study also found that nearly a quarter of drinkers replaced alcohol with functional or wellness drinks, with 45% of 18- to 24-year-olds and 53% of 25- to 34-year-olds shifting to such options.

The festival also featured Queen Camilla, who attended alongside Fielding as part of the royal’s annual literary program. The queen greeted book lovers at a reception on Friday, part of the event’s third edition held during the 250th anniversary year of Jane Austen’s birth. In remarks to guests in the Painted Hall, Camilla invoked Austen as a backdrop for modern book culture and joked about famous scenes from Pride and Prejudice, alluding to Mr. Darcy’s lake encounter in the BBC adaptation. The festival—founded by Camilla as a reading initiative during the pandemic—has grown into a global online community of readers and a major cultural event across 183 countries, with thousands of participants and an online audience that reaches into the millions. The Chatsworth setting and Austen-themed reflections tied Fielding’s Bridget Jones comparison to a broader conversation about literary legacies and how contemporary audiences engage with classic heroines, especially in an era of health-conscious living and digital-age fandom.