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The Oscar-winning actress has praised the new statue of Bridget Jones as “adorable”, remarking, “Personally, she’s far more charming than me.”

The actress was speaking as the new statue honoring the character she portrayed for more than 20 years was unveiled in the iconic London square on Monday.

Bridget Jones was created in the mid-1990s by author Helen Fielding, and initially brought for the big screen in 2001. The latest installment debuted earlier this year.

Commenting at the ceremony, Fielding refused to rule out taking her story further, remarking you should “always keep options open.”

The star explained that people everywhere can relate to Bridget, which highlights her huge appeal.

“It’s her sensitivity, her humanness,” she said. “We recognise ourselves in her, we relate in her journeys.

“It reassures us for the others to be authentically who we are. Imperfect.”

The figure of Bridget Jones resonated deeply with many female hearts, who took comfort in her ups and downs.

From her humorous work incidents, to her infamous granny pants, Bridget resonated with a generation who found a mirror in her—and has attracted a fresh wave of new admirers too.

The new installment in the series, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, was released in early this year, and shows Bridget portrayed as a widowed mom and facing modern dating.

It earned mixed reviews, but recorded the strongest cinema debut ever for a romantic comedy in the British Isles, according to industry sources.

The film was billed as the conclusion in the series—but reflecting at the event, two superfans, Faye and Wayne, said they were convinced there would be a next chapter.

“There were so many things that were left unresolved at the conclusion of the recent movie,” said Faye.

“Bridget keeps growing. I’d love to be with Bridget Jones all the way to the later years,” remarked Wayne.

When questioned about the chance of a future story in Bridget Jones’ saga, Fielding said: “The door is open. Ideas come to you as a author. So if a concept was inspired that I thought was true and engaging and new then I would write it.”

A few commentators think the imperfect and imperfect protagonist, who’s obsessed over her appearance and relationship status, is not the ideal role model.

And Fielding personally has noted earlier that some parts of the story have not aged well.

“Bridget Jones’s Diary would not be created today, set now, because all those men in the office would be sacked,” she said in the past. “That was a completely other era.”

But reflecting on Monday, she said she aspired the broader theme of the novel would still resonate for audiences.

“Personally, to have the comfort of observing a persona that you can identify with, because they are genuine and human and vulnerable, it’s like having the confidante you can be true with,” she said.

The statue is the first to celebrate a romantic comedy on the square’s public art exhibit.

The public art display originally launched in recently with the addition of eight sculptures featuring classic duos, Mary Poppins, Batman, Bugs Bunny, Don Lockwood, Paddington Bear, Mr Bean and Wonder Woman.

In the time since, figures of the boy wizard, the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, the beloved dog and Indiana Jones have been included.