Firth puts weight behind Renee

Colin Firth has defended his Bridget Jones co-star over her fluctuating weight.

14:10 09 November 2004

British actor Colin Firth has defended his Bridget Jones co-star Renee Zellweger over her fluctuating weight.

Firth said he was bemused by the press attention Zellweger received bearing in mind that she was often required to change her appearance for movie roles.

"It's not that unusual for actors to alter their appearance to play a part," he told the Boston Globe. "But I think if I did it, it wouldn't get anywhere near the amount of attention."

"It's absolutely fascinating to people that a woman would dare to do that -- particularly someone who's very attractive and has a Hollywood-based career."

Zellweger attracted significant attention from the media when she shed the pounds after appearing in Bridget Jones' Diary.

The Oscar-winning actress will be in London this week for the premiere of the sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.