Renée Zellweger

11/10/2004 at 06:00 AM EST

Even on the street, Renée Zellweger says, to fans "I am Bridget Jones." And she takes the identity to heart – so much so that the actress, 35, regained 30 lbs. to reprise her role in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Zellweger recently chatted about carrying the weight of her alter ego, playing the romantic and taking some time to "just be a girl."

How was it gaining the weight again?
I had someone else doing the math and putting the plate in front of me and saying, "Here, eat this." And ultimately it worked out. Emotionally it doesn't affect me.

Had you thought about not changing your appearance this time?
People were suggesting to me that it might not be necessary, or that I shouldn't do as much as I did last time, (saying) it's probably not healthy. For me, it would render the experience pointless from a creative perspective.

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Are you as much of a hopeless romantic as Bridget?
It's what I admire most about her. It's her ever-present optimism in the face of so much adversity. I love that she's able to laugh at herself and get back up and keep on trying. Well, you know, I do my best. I keep on trying anyway.