Renee Zellweger didn’t feel maternal playing a pregnant Bridget Jones

Renee Zellweger’s recent turn as a pregnant Bridget Jones didn’t make her broody.

The 47-year-old’s return to the hugely popular franchise, that centres on the hapless title heroine, failed to make the star long for motherhood, but it did make her want to go to the gym.

Renee had to sport a fake baby bump for the role – which finds Bridget pregnant but unsure if the father is Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) or Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey) – and it gave her a new found respect for moms.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight the ‘Miss Potter’ star responded as to whether the role brought out her maternal side by saying: "Oh gosh, no. It just made me know I needed to get back to the gym and start using some dumbbells because those little guys are heavy.

"I had no idea. Kudos to the moms."

She did find the kids on set funny and sweet though, as she explained: "The children made me laugh. Adorable and sweet – so sweet."

‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’ will mark Renee’s third outing as the character, and she’s is more than happy to revisit her.

She said: "It’s kind of fun to catch up. I was so happy to be back in her world and be reunited with her friends and her family, and it just reminded me of how much I love these characters."

Her co-star, and on-screen love interest, Collin, 55, agreed with her sentiments adding: "It really did add a whole dimension, for comedy value, because you got a bit of nostalgia at play. Also, the audience has aged with us."

‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’ is set for release on 16 September.