Ant Anstead publicly praised his girlfriend Renée Zellweger on Instagram after she was honored with a statue for her iconic character Bridget Jones in London, marking a rare public moment for the private couple. The television host reposted a video of the statue unveiling ceremony to his Instagram Stories on November 17, 2025, captioned simply “Iconic,” with Olivia Dean’s song “It Isn’t Perfect But It Might Be” playing in the background.
The bronze statue, featuring Bridget Jones holding her diary and a pen, was unveiled in Leicester Square as part of the “Scenes in the Square” initiative, which celebrates cinematic characters. Zellweger, who has portrayed Bridget since the 2001 film “Bridget Jones’s Diary” and most recently in 2025’s “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,” attended the event and described the statue as “adorable” in an interview with BBC News. She emphasized that the character’s vulnerability and humanness resonate with audiences, making Bridget a symbol of authenticity.
This social media post serves as a rare relationship update from Anstead, as he and Zellweger have kept their romance largely out of the public eye since they began dating in 2021. They have not been photographed together since early March, and their low-key approach contrasts with the typical celebrity culture. Anstead’s public support mirrors his actions at the London premiere of “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” in January, where he attended with his two older children and shared a family photo on Instagram, referring to Zellweger as “the missus.”
The couple’s relationship blossomed after they met on the set of “Celebrity IOU: Joyride” in the summer of 2021, just days after Anstead finalized his divorce from Christina Haack. Zellweger has since bonded with Anstead’s three children: Amelia, 21, and Archie, 18, from his first marriage to Louise Anstead, and Hudson, 6, from his marriage to Haack. In a British Vogue interview earlier this year, Zellweger revealed that she lives in Southern California to be near Anstead and his youngest son, highlighting their integrated family life.
Recently, their relationship faced media scrutiny when Anstead was reported to be staying at the Laguna Beach home of Julia “Jules” French, a 36-year-old cycling instructor undergoing a divorce. Sources suggested financial struggles prompted the move, but Anstead’s representative exclusively told Page Six that the stay was platonic and that he was merely using a friend’s guest house while working in the area. The rep insisted that Anstead and Zellweger are still together, dismissing any speculation of discord.
Despite the couple’s privacy, Anstead has consistently shown admiration for Zellweger’s career and personality. In past posts, he has called her “the greatest human ever” and expressed his crush on her, blending humor with genuine affection. Zellweger, in turn, has supported Anstead’s work, including his show “Born Mechanic,” demonstrating a mutual respect that underpins their four-year relationship.
The statue unveiling not only honors Zellweger’s legacy as Bridget Jones but also underscores the couple’s ability to maintain a strong bond amid public interest. As they continue to prioritize their personal lives, this moment of public acknowledgment may hint at a gradual opening up, though they remain committed to their private values. Moving forward, fans can expect occasional glimpses into their partnership, balanced with the discretion that has defined it thus far.
