We get it - at first ponder, it's difficult to conjure up obvious parallels between the Bridget Jones franchise and Matilda. One is a very British romantic comedy, while the other is a Hollywood feel-good family classic based on the Roald Dahl book.
But there is a surprising link between the two: namely actress Embeth Davidtz, who plays a key character in both films.
In the first Bridget Jones - Bridget Jones's Diary - Embeth played the supporting role of Natasha Glenville, who was Mark Darcy (Colin Firth)'s colleague and love interest. On the brink of engagement, the couple came close to moving to New York for good, until Mark realised his heart was in London - with Bridget (Renée Zellweger). Haughty, uptight and snobbish (especially compared to lovely, relatable Bridget) Natasha couldn't be less like Embeth's character in Matilda.
Yes, that's right, the same actress played one of the most beloved fictional teachers, Miss Honey, in Matilda - five years prior to Bridget Jones. Sweet-natured Miss Honey recognised Matilda's extraordinary academic abilities and went above and beyond to save her from Miss Trunchbull - the formidable headmistress - and Matilda's neglectful parents.
Yes, Embeth Davidtz has range. The now 58-year-old actress also has a number of TV shows under her belt. These include Grey's Anatomy (Nancy Shepherd), Californication (Felicia Koons), Mad Men (Rebecca Pryce) and The Morning Show (Paige Kessler).
Well, there's a versatile actress if ever we saw one. 'Embeth Davidtz really went from playing sweet Miss Honey in Matilda to a snooty lawyer in Bridget Jones’s Diary and Derek Shepherd’s bitchy sister in G_rey's Anatomy_,' as summarised by one X user.
Davidtz also played Helen Hirsch in Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List alongside Liam Neeson. Last year, Embeth starred opposite Liam Neeson once again, playing his wife in action film Retribution.
Millie Payne is a News and Entertainment Writer for Grazia. She has specialised in showbiz interviews, features, articles and roundups for over three years and loves combining her love for writing, talking and all things popular culture.