Catherine Zeta-Jones is a Welsh actress born on September 25, 1969, in Swansea, Wales. She is the daughter of Patricia, a seamstress, and David James "Dai" Jones, who owned a sweet factory. Zeta-Jones showed an early interest in entertainment, performing in stage productions such as "Annie," "Bugsy Malone," and "The Pajama Game." At age 15, she starred in the British revival of "42nd Street," which marked the beginning of her professional career. She gained popularity in the early 1990s with her role in the television series "The Darling Buds of May." Her breakthrough in film came with her role as Elena in "The Mask of Zorro" (1998), opposite Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas.

Zeta-Jones has starred in numerous successful films, including "Entrapment" (1999), "Traffic" (2000), and "Chicago" (2002), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She continued to build her career with roles in "Intolerable Cruelty" (2003), "Ocean's Twelve" (2004), and "The Legend of Zorro" (2005). In addition to her acting career, Zeta-Jones was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2010 for her services to drama. She married actor Michael Douglas in 2000, and they have two children together. Zeta-Jones remains a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for her versatility and captivating performances.