Helen Fielding is a renowned English novelist, best known for her chick lit novels, particularly the Bridget Jones series. She was born in Yorkshire and spent many years working as a journalist in London. Fielding's career as a novelist took off with her first book, which was followed by a request from The Independent to write a column about the life of a 30-something single woman in London. Instead, she created the character Bridget Jones, an exaggerated representation of a single woman in London, which became a massive success.
The 1990s were a significant period for female writers, with Helen Fielding and J.K. Rowling gaining immense popularity. While Rowling's success with the Harry Potter series is well-known, Fielding's success with the Bridget Jones series is often overlooked. Fielding's Bridget Jones series, which began in the late 90s, follows the life of a young overweight girl with many issues, providing a humorous and relatable perspective on life and love.
Fielding has authored four novels, including Cause Celeb, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, and Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination. She also co-wrote the screenplays for the movies Bridget Jones’s Diary and The Edge of Reason. Fielding now works full-time as a novelist and screenwriter, dividing her time between London and Los Angeles.
Bridget Jones's Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason were published in 40 countries and sold more than 15 million copies. The movies based on the novels achieved worldwide success, and the character of Bridget Jones became a cultural icon. In 2012, Fielding announced that she had begun writing the third installment in the Bridget Jones series, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, which was published in 2013 and became a bestseller in the UK and other countries. The novel was praised for its humor and for allowing Bridget Jones to grow up into a funnier and more interesting character.