Staying On Top

Background:

In 1998, a beautiful seductive character named Elena caught the attention of moviegoers in the romantic adventure, The Mask of Zorro, starring Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Catherine, the actress behind Elena, has since starred in several blockbusters and has become Britain's highest paid actress ever. Winning numerous awards, including an Oscar, Catherine also married super-star Michael Douglas, and shows no hint of slowing down.

Catherine is a star.

From Velma Kelly in Chicago (2002) to Isabel Lahiri in Ocean's Twelve (2004), she quenches a thirst that fans possess.

Catherine Zeta-Jones entertains, and she does it well.

With her no nonsense attitude, and commitment to her arts, the trained singer, dancer and actor is smart, attractive, talented and has just what it takes to stay on top.


Catherine Zeta Jones was born on September 25, 1969 in Swansea, Wales to parents Dai (Welsh, candy factory worker) and Pat (Irish, seamstress). She is the middle child, surrounded by older brother David (born 1967) and younger brother Lyndon (born 1972). Lyndon works at Catherine's production company, Milkwood Films.

The name Catherine is derived from her maternal grandmother, Catherine Fair, and Zeta Jones from her paternal side of the family.

Her love for dance and acting began as a child.

Catherine Zeta-Jones's early career includes stage and musicals before landing roles in film and movies such as: Sheherazade in Mille et une nuits, Les (1990), Chirsty in Out of the Blue (1991), Mariette Jane Larkin in The Darling Buds of May (1991), Beatriz in Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992), Maya in The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert (1992), Kitty in Splitting Heirs (1993), Victoria Chapman in The Cinder Path (1994), Eustacia Vye in The Return of the Native (1994), Chloe in Blue Juice (1995), Catherine in Katharina die Große (1995), Sala in The Phantom (1996) and Isabella Paradine in the TV movie Titanic (1996). It was her role as Elena in 1998's The Mask of Zorro that caught the attention of the public.

In 1999 Catherine starred with legend Sean Connery in the action film Entrapment, and with Liam Neeson, Lili Taylor, and Owen Wilson in the thriller, The Haunting. She went on to act in High Fidelity (2000) and Traffic (2000). Catherine starred in America's Sweethearts (2001), alongside Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal and John Cusack. She starred as Velma Kelly in the huge smash, Chicago (2002). Zeta-Jones was the voice behind Marina in the animation film Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) and starred in Intolerable Cruelty (2003) with actor George Clooney.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is a leading lady. In 2004 she stars with leading man Tom Hanks in The Terminal and stars in the super-cast of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Julia Roberts (to just name a few) in the long anticipated Ocean's Twelve.

You can see Catherine in upcoming Smoke & Mirrors (2004), Legend of Zorro (2005), and Coming Out (2006).

Awards:

• Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, CHICAGO (2003)
• BAFTA Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, CHICAGO (2003)
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Best Acting Ensemble, CHICAGO (2003)
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO (2003)
• Evening Standard British Film Awards: Best Actress, CHICAGO (2003)
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, CHICAGO (2003)
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture, CHICAGO (2003)
• ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award - Supporting Actress of the Year (2003)
• Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture, TRAFFIC (2001)
• Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Actress - Action, ENTRAPMENT (2000)
• Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Female Newcomer, THE MASK OF ZORRO (1999)
• European Film Awards: Audience Award - Best Actress, ENTRAPMENT (1999)
• ShoWest Convention: ShoWest Award - Supporting Actress of the Year (1999)