Helen Fielding

Helen Fielding, born in Morley (that’s Yorkshire, not LA—big difference), basically set the bar for romantic comedy with her creation of Bridget Jones, and honestly, the world’s better for it. Her books hit shelves in the ’90s, and within a few years, people everywhere were laughing, crying, and sort of mortified by how much they related to Bridget’s wine-soaked, diary-keeping chaos. Fast-forward to 2001, and suddenly you’ve got Renée Zellweger in granny panties, Hugh Grant being a loveable jerk, and Colin Firth brooding in a Christmas jumper—cinema gold, honestly. Fielding didn’t just write the books; she helped bring them to the big screen as a producer, so you can thank her for every awkward dinner party and cringey voicemail Bridget leaves. “Bridget Jones’s Diary” basically redefined the rom-com, and the sequels—“Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” and “Bridget Jones’s Baby”—didn’t exactly hurt her legacy either. Each movie manages to balance slapstick, heartbreak, and genuinely sharp humor, all while reminding you how easy it is to fall on your face in love (sometimes literally). What’s wild is how Fielding’s voice comes through in every scene—self-aware, a little messy, and totally honest about the madness of modern romance. She’s not just a writer and producer; she’s sort of the queen of making lovable disasters feel seen. And judging by how people keep coming back to Bridget, it’s clear Fielding’s not going anywhere.