Catherine Zeta-Jones was born in Wales and her father owned a candy factory but she displayed a love for entertainment early on by staring on stage in Annie, Bugsy Malone and The Pajama Game. By 15 years old, she had the lead in the British revival of 42nd Street. She made a name for herself in the UK in the early 90s when she starred in the Yorkshire Television comedy/drama series The Darling Buds of May. The series was a hit and made her one of the most popular television actresses in the UK. She went on to play supporting roles in films like 1992’s Christopher Columbus: The Discovery and 1996’s The Phantom before landing her breakthrough role as Eléna opposite Antonio Banderas and Anthony Hopkins in 1998’s The Mask of Zorro. She’s been on Hollywood’s A-list ever since. Since then, she’s starred in big budget blockbusters like 1999’s Entrapment and The Haunting and even won an Academy Award. She was even bestowed the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her accomplishments in film and television. In honor of her 44th birthday today, here is my Top 10 list of Catherine Zeta-Jones movies.
10. Rock of Ages: – This 2012 musical comedy was an adaptation of the 2006 rock Broadway musical of the same name. Set in 1987, Zeta-Jones played Patricia Whitmore, the wife of the religiously conservative Mayor of Los Angeles, Mike Whitmore, played by Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston. Patricia formed a crusade to close LA’s famous Bourbon Room and seemed hell-bent on taking down rock icon Stacie Jaxx, played by Tom Cruise. We later learn that Patricia was a Stacie Jaxx groupie, who he had seduced subsequently breaking her heart and her crusade against him was her revenge. The movie got mixed reviews from critics but Zeta-Jones’ performance as the slightly unhinged mayor’s wife was memorable as were her musical numbers as she sang and danced to Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
9. Ocean's Twelve: – This 2004 crime comedy was the sequel to 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven, which was a remake of the 1960 heist film Ocean’s 11, which starred five Rat Packers: Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop. In Ocean’s Twelve, Zeta-Jones played Europol Detective Isabel Lahiri, who had a past relationship with Brad Pitt’s character, Rusty. Zeta-Jones infused the character with conflicting emotions as she captures the 11 thieves but learns that one of the thieves she’s been chasing for years was really her father. Her chemistry with Pitt was both subtle and sexy as at the climax of the film it seemed that Isabel and Rusty have rekindled their relationship.
8. The Legend of Zorro: – Zeta-Jones reprised her role as the feisty Eléna de la Vega in this 2005 action adventure sequel to 1998’s wildly popular The Mask of Zorro. Set in 1850, nine years after the first film, California was voting on whether to join the United States of America as a state. Eléna and Alejandro, played again by Antonio Banderas, were now married with a spitfire of a son named Joaquin. Eléna was forced to deceive Alejandro by the Pinkertons by spending time with her former schoolmate, French Count Armand, played by Rufus Sewell, whom the Pinkertons believed was the leader of a secret society that wanted the US to destroy itself in the Civil War. Zeta-Jones and Banderas’ chemistry was off-the-charts as they fought together against this potential threat.
7. The Terminal: – This 2004 dramedy, which was directed by Steven Spielberg, paired Zeta-Jones with Academy Award winning actor Tom Hanks. Hanks played Viktor Navorski, an immigrant, who didn’t speak English, from the fictional country of Krakozhia, who became stranded at New York’s JFK Airport when his passport was suddenly no longer valid due to the outbreak of a civil war in his homeland. So, Viktor wasn’t permitted to either enter the US or return home. During his stay, Viktor made friends among the airport’s employees and eventually learned English. Then, Zeta-Jones’ character, stewardess Amelia Warren met Viktor and they became friends, completely unaware of his predicament. Hanks and Zeta-Jones’ chemistry was sweet as Viktor was attracted to Amelia but she couldn’t bring herself to break up with her married lover. Zeta-Jones brought out vulnerability in Amelia that leapt off the screen that made this, at least for me, a very memorable role for Zeta-Jones.
6. Intolerable Cruelty: – Co-written, directed and produced by the Coen brothers, this 2003 romantic black comedy had Zeta-Jones starring opposite George Clooney. Zeta-Jones played Marylin Rexroth, a gold-digger who Clooney’s character, divorce lawyer Miles Massey falls hard for. Zeta-Jones’ portrayed this seemingly heartless man eater with a deep down need to just be loved perfectly. She and Clooney each showed off their superb comedic timing even at times with a completely straight face, not an easy feat. Critics loved the movie and moviegoers couldn’t help but root for Marylin and Miles to get together in the end!
5. America's Sweethearts: – This 2001 romantic comedy had Zeta-Jones co-starring with Billy Crystal, Julia Roberts, John Cusack, Stanley Tucci, Hank Azaria, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin. Zeta-Jones played actress Gwen Harrison, one-half of “America’s Sweethearts” with her actor husband Eddie Thomas, played by Cusack. Harrison cheats on and leaves Thomas, for Hector, played by the always hysterical Azaria, which devastates fans of Eddie and Gwen’s movies. Meanwhile, in the background is Gwen’s sister, Kiki, played by Roberts, who has secretly loved Eddie for years. Seeing Zeta-Jones play an obnoxious, pampered, self-absorbed diva was hilarious as she spends the whole movie conniving to save her career and making outrageous demands on her once fat now thin sister.
4. No Reservations: – This delectable 2007 romantic dramedy had Zeta-Jones starring as Kate, the head chef at a trendy bistro in Manhattan, who intimidates everyone around her, even her boss, Paula, played by Patricia Clarkson. Her life is turned upside down when her sister dies in a car accident and she’s left to care for her 9-year-old niece Zoe, played by Abigail Breslin. While on temporary leave from the restaurant, Paula hires a new sous chef, Nick Palmer, played by Aaron Eckhart, who isn’t intimated by Kate at all! Though initially threatened that he’ll take her job, Kate warms to Nick and he also bonds with Zoe. They begin to form a relationship but Kate gets scared and ends it, saddening both Nick and Zoe. Zeta-Jones and Eckhart have phenomenal chemistry as they fall in love around mouthwatering culinary delights. In the end, Kate put down her emotional wall and she, Nick and Zoe open their own bistro. The movie got mixed reviews from critics but, IMO, Zeta-Jones and Eckhart were the perfect duo amidst enticing fare.
3. Chicago: – Zeta-Jones won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role Academy Award for her performance as Velma Kelly in this 2002 musical crime comedy. Zeta-Jones’ Kelly was one of two murderesses the film focused on. Zeta-Jones’ conveyed her singing and dancing talent as she barely sat down throughout the entire movie. The movie received critical acclaim and won six Academy Awards including Zeta-Jones’ win. Zeta-Jones alongside Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly and Christine Baranski rounded out a stellar cast and IMO, she deserved a special award for working so hard!
2. The Mask of Zorro: – This 1998 swashbuckling extravaganza started it all for Zeta-Jones! She was introduced moviegoers and the role catapulted her onto Hollywood’s radar. Co-starring with Antonio Banderas and Sir Anthony Hopkins, Zeta-Jones played Eléna Montero, the long-lost daughter of Hopkins’ character, Don Diego de la Vega, aka Zorro. 20 years after Diego’s life was destroyed after Don Rafael Montero, played by Stuart Wilson, learned his identity, stole Eléna as a baby to raise as his own child, his wife was accidentally killed by one of Montero’s soldiers and Diego was imprisoned, he escaped to seek vengeance. He finds a drunk and despondent Alejandro Murrieta, (Banderas) who just witnessed the murder of his brother, Joaquin. Diego trains Alejandro to succeed him as Zorro and during this, Alejandro meets a now grown Eléna and they fall passionately in love. Zeta-Jones’ chemistry with Banderas was white hot as their playful banter and sexual tension flew off the screen. In addition, her scenes with Hopkins were heartfelt and tender as Eléna learned who her real father was. Zeta-Jones’ performance was full of fire and it was the perfect role to announce herself to Hollywood!
1. Entrapment: - This 1999 romantic crime adventure had Zeta-Jones co-starring with none other than Sean Connery. Zeta-Jones played Virginia “Gin” Baker, an investigator for Waverly Insurance tracking Connery’s character, master thief, Robert “Mac” MacDougal. But, Baker was really a thief as well, who wanted MacDougal to help her heist $8 billion for the International Clearance Bank in Kuala Lumpur. Zeta-Jones and Connery had subtle sexual tension throughout the movie as they methodically plotted out the caper and Zeta-Jones conveyed all out sex appeal the whole time!