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

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

And just like that, Ejiofor was cast as Mr. Wallaker, a pragmatic science teacher, in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, the fourth installment in the beloved romantic comedy franchise starring Renee Zellweger as the titular heroine, which hit Peacock on February 14.

Renée Zellweger is back in the role of Bridget Jones for the fourth installment of the series. CBC News’s senior entertainment reporter Eli Glasner says underneath its usual comedic pace, Mad About the Boy is a ‘surprising’ story about grief and love.

Renée Zellweger recalls how Colin Firth made her cry on first day filming new Bridget Jones movieThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Mad About the Boy contains an age gap romance between Renée Zellweger and Leo Woodall, but exactly how wide is the gap?