A little girl with big dreams ... She was born away from the art world, but she worked hard to fulfill her dream. Her life path was not strewn with rose petals, but she achieved the goal set at an early age. Not knowing either indulgence or mercy, she seriously undermined her emotional health. This led her to fall out of life for some period, both personal and public. The disease brought discord to her family, but could not tear her from her beloved job - in the professional life of an actress you will not find periods of idleness. The images she creates on the screen are vivid and memorable. She puts in them all the flames of her character. Meet Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Childhood
Catherine Zeta-Jones's biography begins in the English city of Swansea, located in South Wales. It was here that on September 25, 1969, little Catti was born.
She was the second child in a friendly, close-knit family. Later, she also had a younger brother.
Katherine's parents were far from stage life. Father led his own confectionery workshop, and mother was a seamstress by profession. However, the desire to be in the center of attention and to entertain others appeared in little Catty as soon as she learned to speak.
Even at the age of four, she selflessly entertained her grandmother by singing, using, for lack of a real microphone, the nose of a small teapot.
Unexpected tragedy
Soon, the girl performed almost on the real stage in a home-grown troupe organized by the local Catholic Church. Even then, her singing stood out from other children. Soon, however, the very existence of this voice was severely tested.
Katherine became seriously ill. The infection affected the airways and completely blocked the air. The child was dying. Doctors could save her only by resorting to a tracheotomy.
Youth
Due to illness and subsequent recovery, Katherine missed many classes at school. Therefore, caring parents sent her to catch up with what was lost in a private school.
But a girl developed beyond her years was not interested in studying at all. Together with a small amateur staff, she diligently comprehends the intricacies of ballet and is looking for opportunities to participate in productions. Soon she already plays a leading role in the children's musical Bugsy Malone.
The actress herself loves to argue that at 12 she looked at all 22 and was very sexy. She dreamed of nightclubs and a big stage.
First breakthrough
When Katherine was 14 years old, a producer called in Swansea to recruit the children there for the choir. Samples for Katherine were successful. So successful that instead of participating in the crowd, she was given a role in the musical “Pajama Game” and hastened to sign a contract for the tour.
By the age of 15, the young actress finally drops out of school and moves to London, focusing on her career.
In anticipation of fame
In the 90s, Catherine Zeta-Jones tries himself in the role of the singer. And although she has a great voice, great successes have not been achieved in this direction.
And then with a firm decision to conquer Hollywood, Katherine moves to Los Angeles. That was a bold decision. The future actress could rely solely on herself.
She works hard and is making some progress. The actress plays in series and feature films. Her staff on the set were actors such as Marlon Brando, Benicio Del Toro and Evan McGregor. However, this was just the beginning.
Confession
In 1996, just a year before the triumphant appearance of The Titanic by James Cameron, director Robert Lieberman made a two-part television film of the same name. The main role in the "Titanic" of Liberman was played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. The filmography of the actress, in fact, deserves to start from this moment.
The actress’s game was not noticed by anyone, but by Stephen Spielberg himself. At that time, preparations were underway for the filming of The Mask of Zorro, and Spielberg suggested that director Martin Campbell try to play Catherine Zeta-Jones. The tests were successful, and she was approved for this role.
The work was not easy, and Katherine did her best. Every day she spent two hours dancing, the next two hours were devoted to horseback riding, followed by a two-hour training in fencing and another two hours spent on teaching oratory. Total - 8 hours only for preparation.
However, this work paid off with interest. When the film “The Mask of Zorro” was released, the main male roles in which went to such stars as Antonio Banderas and Anthony Hopkins, the brilliant image of a tender, romantic, but at the same time daring Elena won more than one heart.
Career heyday
Immediately after the release of The Mask of Zorro, the actress was invited to Rome for an interview with Sean Connery. He was fascinated by her talent, and Catherine Zeta-Jones got the lead role in the film "Trap". The filmography of the actress from this time began to replenish with bright works: Traffic, Chicago, Unbearable Cruelty, Terminal, Ocean's Twelve, Legend of Zorro, Taste of Life - this is not a complete list.
Films with Katherine Zeta-Jones impress with their sincerity. It is no secret that in order to win the hearts of viewers, it is not enough just to have a beautiful and spectacular appearance. It is necessary for the viewer to believe what is happening on the screen. Katherine understands this perfectly and does everything possible to fully enter the role.
For example, to work in the film “Taste of Life,” she went to work as a waitress in a restaurant in the evening. To the visitors' astonished comments about how much she looked like a famous actress, she only with a smile noticed that everyone was saying that to her.
Marriage
Thanks to this attitude towards filming, Katherine’s work rarely went unnoticed. And it doesn’t matter if she played a cook, a stewardess or a spoiled rich lady.
For the actress’s personal life, the turning point was that her work in The Mask of Zorro did not go unnoticed not just by the general public, but by a very specific man. And she was interested in him not just as a heroine, but as a woman. This man was the notorious Michael Douglas. Catherine Zeta-Jones accepted his courtship, despite the fact that he is two years older than her father. The age difference between them is 25 years.
The star couple registered their relationship on November 18, 2000. By this time, Catherine Zeta-Jones is already 31 years old. The couple came out interesting. On the one hand - a woman who until now has not been convicted even by the ubiquitous paparazzi in any scandalous relationship or serious relationship. And on the other hand - a man whose adventures have long become a byword in Hollywood circles.
However, Katherine clearly knew what she was doing. Douglas had to seek her location not a single month. And when at last he got his, scorched womanizer, it was as if replaced. Michael did not hide his happiness. And when Katherine became pregnant, his delight simply knew no bounds.
At the moment, the couple raise two children - a son, Dylan and daughter Karis. The age difference between the children is three years. This fact was another reason to gossip about the life of the actress. However, she dismissed exclamations of the type: “What about a career?”, “But a figure ?!”, with statements that everything can be combined - it would be desire and perseverance.
By the way, Catherine Zeta-Jones, whose weight ranges from 58-62 kg, is one of the few actresses in Hollywood who are not obsessed with leniency. Anyway, her style is more inclined to the ideals of the second half of the XIX century. And I must admit - he really suits her. Indeed, Catherine Zeta-Jones (height - 169 cm) can not be called miniature.
Thunder in paradise
In the summer of 2010, 66-year-old Michael Douglas was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. The next six months were spent in intensive treatment, which gave positive results. The actor officially announced that he had fully recovered in January of next year. However, it cannot be said that this period was easy for the spouses.
No matter how strong a woman Catherine is, she also has limits. But, selflessly immersed in her favorite work, she clearly ignored them repeatedly. Gradually, she develops bipolar affective disorder.
This is a very unpleasant ailment that throws a person out of a state of extreme arousal during periods of prolonged depression. As usual, all the cones fall into the family.
At first, Michael suffered incomprehensible mood swings of his wife almost meekly. However, the farther, the more the atmosphere in the house grew tense. In addition, bipolar disorder is not so easy to diagnose. And such a strong personality as Katherine was not going to admit that she had any problems.
The couple lived on the expectation that such a relationship was temporary. You just need to finish the current project, relax, change the situation. ... But the weeks turned into months, but it did not get any easier. Finally, Katherine turned to specialists.
The situation was serious. Actress Katherine Zeta-Jones is undergoing treatment, but the effect of it is only temporary. After two years, she goes through a second course, and after another three months, Michael Douglas files for divorce. He states that he is no longer able to endure the oppressed state of his wife.
Reconciliation
But despite all the personal difficulties and the frivolous attitude to the arrangement of marriage in modern society as a whole, and even more so in show business, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones clearly do not intend to destroy their family so easily. Not even a full three months after the official submission of the documents for divorce, how they were able to resolve the conflict and restore their relationship.
Someone continues to consider Catherine Zeta-Jones a kind of mannered high-society diva. Personally, this does not bother her. She is truly confident and clearly knows what she wants. This young woman and now with pleasure will drink a couple of glasses of beer with her family and will go play rugby with them. She knows how to work hard, and to fully enjoy life. And her acting skills will delight more than one generation of viewers.