Catherine Zeta-Jones is a Welsh actress who has had a successful career in both film and television. She was born on September 25, 1969, in Swansea, Wales. Zeta-Jones has received numerous awards and accolades for her acting, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 2002 film “Chicago.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones’s Quick Facts

Born	September 25, 1969, in Swansea, Wales
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Education	Hazel Johnson School of Dance, Dumbarton House School, and Arts Educational Schools
Net Worth	$150 million (as of 2021)
Social Account	Instagram: Catherine Zeta-Jones (@catherinezetajones)

Biography

Catherine Zeta-Jones is a Welsh actress who has achieved fame and acclaim for her roles in various films, musicals, and television shows. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Tony Award. She is also known for her marriage to actor Michael Douglas, with whom she has two children.

Early Life

Catherine Zeta Jones was born on September 25, 1969, in Swansea, South Wales, to David Jones, the owner of a candy factory, and Patricia (née Fair), a seamstress. Her name was derived from her grandmothers’ names, Catherine Fair and Zeta Jones. She has two brothers, David and Lyndon.

Zeta-Jones showed an interest in performing from a young age. She began taking dance lessons at age four and joined a local theater troupe at age six. She also sang at talent shows and Catholic masses. She attended the Hazel Johnson School of Dance and the Dumbarton House School in Swansea. When she was 10, she won a national tap-dancing competition.

At age 15, she left school to join a touring production of the musical The Pajama Game, which earned her an Equity card. She then moved to London to pursue a career in musical theater. She studied at the Arts Educational Schools and landed a leading role in the West End production of 42nd Street at age 17.

Career Beginnings

Zeta-Jones made her screen debut in the French-Italian film 1001 Nights (1990), which was a flop. She then appeared in several British television shows and films, such as The Darling Buds of May (1991–1993), The Return of the Native (1994), and Catherine the Great (1995). She also released a single, “In the Arms of Love”, which reached number 36 on the UK charts.

Zeta-Jones became dissatisfied with being typecast as the token pretty girl in British films and decided to relocate to Los Angeles in 1996. She auditioned for several Hollywood projects and impressed director Steven Spielberg, who recommended her to Martin Campbell for the role of Elena Montero in The Mask of Zorro (1998). The film was a hit and launched Zeta-Jones’s international career.

Movies

Zeta-Jones followed up her breakthrough role with another blockbuster, Entrapment (1999), opposite Sean Connery. She then starred in the critically acclaimed drama Traffic (2000), directed by Steven Soderbergh, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. She also appeared in the romantic comedy America’s Sweethearts (2001), alongside Julia Roberts and John Cusack.

Zeta-Jones reached the peak of her career with her performance as Velma Kelly in the musical Chicago (2002), based on the Broadway show. She sang and danced alongside Renée Zellweger and Richard Gere and won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She also won a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role.

Zeta-Jones continued to star in high-profile films throughout the 2000s, such as the Coen brothers’ comedy Intolerable Cruelty (2003), the heist sequel Ocean’s Twelve (2004), the Steven Spielberg comedy The Terminal (2004), and the romantic comedy No Reservations (2007). She also voiced Marina in the animated film Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) and reprised her role as Elena de la Vega in The Legend of Zorro (2005).

In 2009, Zeta-Jones returned to the stage and made her Broadway debut in a revival of A Little Night Music, opposite Angela Lansbury. She played Desiree Armfeldt, a glamorous actress who rekindles an old romance. She received rave reviews for her performance and won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Zeta-Jones worked intermittently in the subsequent decades, starring in films such as Side Effects (2013), Red 2 (2013), Dad’s Army (2016), and Cocaine Godmother (2017). She also took on supporting roles in television shows such as Feud: Bette & Joan (2017), Queen America (2018–2019), Prodigal Son (2021), and Wednesday (2022–present).

Achievements

Zeta-Jones is one of the few actors who have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting, which consists of winning an Oscar, a Tony, and an Emmy Award. She won an Oscar for Chicago, a Tony for A Little Night Music, and an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her portrayal of actress Olivia de Havilland in Feud: Bette & Joan.

Zeta-Jones has also received numerous other honors and nominations, including two Golden Globe nominations, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Critics’ Choice Award, and a Satellite Award. She has also been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.

Personal Life

Zeta-Jones has been married to actor Michael Douglas since 2000. They met at the Deauville Film Festival in 1998 and began dating shortly after. They have a 25-year age difference and share the same birthday, September 25. They have two children, Dylan Michael (born in 2000) and Carys Zeta (born in 2003).

Zeta-Jones and Douglas have faced several challenges in their marriage, such as Douglas’s battle with throat cancer in 2010 and Zeta-Jones’s struggle with bipolar II disorder, which led her to seek treatment in 2011 and 2013. They also briefly separated in 2013 but reconciled later that year. They have since renewed their vows and celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2020.

Zeta-Jones is also a stepmother to Douglas’s son from his previous marriage to Diandra Luker, Cameron Douglas, who was sentenced to five years in prison for drug-related charges in 2010. Zeta-Jones has supported Cameron throughout his recovery and welcomed his daughter Lua Izzy in 2017.

Zeta-Jones is a brand endorser and has appeared in commercials for companies such as Elizabeth Arden, T-Mobile, Alfa Romeo, and Di Modolo. She also launched her own lifestyle brand, Casa Zeta-Jones, in 2017, which offers products such as home decor, clothing, accessories, and coffee.

Zeta-Jones is a philanthropist and supports various charitable causes, such as the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation, the Global Missing Children’s Network, the American Cancer Society, and the Starlight Children’s Foundation. She is also a patron of The Noah’s Ark Appeal, a charity that raises funds for the Children’s Hospital for Wales.

5 Most Interesting Facts about Catherine Zeta-Jones:

• She was named after her grandmothers, Catherine Fair and Zeta Jones.
• She won a national tap-dancing competition when she was 10 years old.
• She shares the same birthday with her husband, Michael Douglas, but is 25 years younger than him.
• She is one of the few actors who have achieved the Triple Crown of acting, winning an Oscar, a Tony, and an Emmy Award.
• She launched her own lifestyle brand, Casa Zeta-Jones, in 2017.

Impact and Legacy

Catherine Zeta-Jones is one of the most successful and versatile actresses of her generation. She has proven her talent in various genres, from action and comedy to drama and musicals. She has also shown her range on both screen and stage, winning acclaim and awards for her performances.

Zeta-Jones is also one of the most influential celebrities in the world. She has been named among the most beautiful people by People magazine, the most desirable women by AskMen.com, and the most powerful women by Forbes magazine. She has also been a role model for aspiring actors, especially from Wales.

Zeta-Jones is also a humanitarian who has used her fame and fortune to support various causes that are close to her heart. She has also been vocal about her mental health issues and has raised awareness about bipolar disorder. She has also been an advocate for women’s rights and empowerment.

Legal Issues

Zeta-Jones has been involved in several legal issues throughout her career. In 2003, she and her husband, Michael Douglas, sued Hello! magazine for publishing unauthorized photos of their wedding in 2000. They claimed that the magazine had breached their privacy and damaged their professional reputation. They won the case and were awarded £14,600 in damages.

In 2004, Zeta-Jones was stalked by Dawnette Knight, a woman who sent threatening letters to her husband, Michael Douglas. Knight claimed that she was in love with Douglas and wanted to kill Zeta-Jones. Knight was arrested and pleaded guilty to stalking charges. She was sentenced to three years in prison.

In 2005, Zeta-Jones testified against two men who were accused of blackmailing her with an alleged sex tape. The men claimed that they had a video of Zeta-Jones having sex with an ex-boyfriend before she married Douglas. Zeta-Jones denied that such a tape existed and said that she was being extorted. The men were found guilty of conspiracy to blackmail and sentenced to prison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Catherine Zeta-Jones is a talented and successful actress who has starred in various films, musicals, and television shows. She has won numerous awards and accolades for her performances, including an Oscar, a Tony, and an Emmy Award. She is also a wife, a mother, a businesswoman, and a philanthropist who has overcome many challenges in her personal and professional life. She is one of the most influential and admired celebrities in the world.