Catherine Zeta-Jones (born 25 September 1969) is a Welsh actress based in the United States. She began her career on stage at an early age. After starring in a number of television films and small roles in films, she came to prominence with roles in films such as The Phantom, The Mask of Zorro, and Entrapment in the late 1990s. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for portraying Velma Kelly in the 2002 film adaptation of Chicago. Zeta-Jones is married to Michael Douglas, with whom she starred in the 2000 film Traffic.

Zeta-Jones, the middle of three children, was born Catherine Zeta Jones in Treboeth, a working-class area of Swansea, West Glamorgan, in South Wales. Her father, David "Dai" Jones, is Welsh and a former sweets factory owner, and her mother, Patricia (Fair), is Irish and a seamstress. Her father's cousin is married to singer Bonnie Tyler, who is also from Swansea. Her uncle owns Swansea's Skoda car dealership as well as Llanelli A.F.C. football club. Her name stems from those of her grandmothers - her maternal grandmother, Katherine Fair, and her paternal grandmother, Zeta Jones.

Zeta-Jones was raised Catholic. After her parents won GBP100,000 at bingo in the 1980s, they moved to St. Andrews Drive in Mayals, an upper class area of Swansea. Zeta-Jones attended Dumbarton House School in Swansea. Comedian and actor Rob Brydon also went there. She left school early to further her acting ambitions without obtaining O levels and went on to attend The Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick for a full-time three year course in musical theatre. Read More ...