For a perpetually frustrated single woman, Bridget Jones always had good taste in men. On the big screen 24 years ago, "Bridget Jones's Diary" cemented Colin Firth's sex appeal as human rights lawyer Mark Darcy and made us swoon for Hugh Grant all over again as roguish book publisher Daniel Cleaver.

"We're both goofballs, so we laugh very easily," the actress tells PEOPLE of WoodallRenée Zellweger says she and her Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy costar Leo Woodall sparked an immediate connection on set.

The “Bridget Jones” franchise is long beloved by fans, due in extremely large part to Renée Zellweger’s portrayal of the title character. So, yes, the actress was a resource director Michael Morris turned to a lot while making the fourth film — and there was one particular insight from the Oscar winner that he says unlocked the whole thing.