There came a moment when Renée Zellweger (55) had to pause for her own mental health. From 2010 to 2016, she distanced herself from the deceptive Hollywood lights to focus on herself and return as an improved version of herself.

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.

"We've been forging this friendship for over 25 years together… through this shared journey," the actress tells PEOPLE