Catherine Zeta-Jones Reveals the One Set Where She Was Really Nervous

Catherine Zeta-Jones opens up about parenting, peaking early and advice from hubby Michael Douglas.

OK, yes, Catherine Zeta-Jones is an Oscar-winning star with almost 50 standout acting credits. But when she gushes, “I love my life!” at the end of our Parade interview, there’s zero reason to believe she’s just delivering a line.

For starters, she’s Zooming from her 10-room estate in Spain located on the outskirts of the village of Valldemossa. “This is a sanctuary for family and friends,” she says. She explains that her parents, Patricia and David, are staying with her while her husband of 22 years, actor Michael Douglas, 78, is filming on location in Paris. She recently saw her kids, Dylan, 22, and Carys, 19, and is thrilled that they’re “well-rounded, humble and two great citizens of the planet.” She’ll soon head to the family’s apartment overlooking Central Park in Manhattan and then enjoy the holidays.

“I’m very blessed,” says the Wales native, looking luminous after 9 p.m. “I enjoy being with my parents. I have my dogs and my family. My husband and I love being there for our kids even though they’re growing up. We also love to travel and go to art galleries and theater.”

Zeta-Jones, 53, still thrives on working as well, as noted by two high-profile projects that have a lot of name recognition.

In the Tim Burton-directed dark comedy series Wednesday (now streaming on Netflix), she plays the iconic Morticia Addams—the alluring mother of the titular teen character (Jenna Ortega) and the keeper of a few long-buried family secrets involving husband Gomez (Luis Guzmán). Zeta-Jones trades in Morticia’s trademark all-black ensemble for a blonde bob and chic khakis in National Treasure: Edge of History (premiering Dec. 14 on Disney+), a follow-up adventure to the 2000s film franchise. Her Billie character is a billionaire black-market antiques expert desperate to get her hands on an ancient relic. A group of scrappy young people stand in her way.

For both series, “I lucked out because these are stories already in people’s consciousness,” she says. “My grandmother who passed away and my 6-year-old niece would both know The Addams Family. When I told my son that I was doing National Treasure, he was so into it because he loved the movies. I also had so much fun working on both shows, so this was a little bit of a dream come true.”

Call it one of many that she’s achieved since landing in Hollywood nearly 30 years ago. She reflects on it all for Parade.

Did your motherly instincts kick in when playing the mom to a snarky teen in Wednesday? 

It always helps bringing the “real” into your work, but I also found it rather touching. We learn that Morticia was this popular cheerleader at school who’s really different from Wednesday. And when you have a daughter, you wish you could just put an old head on young shoulders. My daughter would say, “Mom, I’m not you!” But you’re half of me, right? So, that’s life. And it’s interesting to play.

You also work with young actors in National Treasure. How’d you like that?

It’s very refreshing as an actor to go into an environment where there’s a lot of energy and hormones! But these kids understand the business and have a work ethic. That’s what impressed me with Jenna in Wednesday and Lisette [Alexis] in National Treasure. They put in the hours and came prepared. They weren’t just stamping a timecard. They’re hungry.

You started performing professionally on stage at age 9. Is that how you developed your own work ethic? 

Certainly! And by age 13, I was already in London’s West End. I left school at age 16 to do a national tour, and then I had the lead role in 42nd Street at age 17. I still can’t believe I was doing eight shows a week with a chaperone and a tutor away from mom. I had to make that sacrifice because there was a whole chunk of growing up I didn’t have. But I wouldn’t have changed it for anything because it was like joining a boot camp for the only thing I ever wanted.

What did your parents make of this crazy lifestyle? 

Well, my parents weren’t theatrical. [Her mom is a seamstress; her dad owned a sweets factory.] But they also weren’t pushy. I was accepted at a dancing school at a young age, and everything just happened from there. They’ve been incredibly supportive, as have my two brothers. When you’re the only girl and the protégé, it can be tough. I’m surprised they didn’t have a voodoo doll of me and stick pins in it!

Why didn’t you want to be a movie star? 

I never thought it was in the cards for me. I remember saying after 42nd Street, “What happens now?” I was a hoofer. I didn’t go to an acting school or study Shakespeare. So, I felt like I was in a box until a French director [Philippe de Broca] cast me in his first movie [1990’s 1001 Nights]. A year later, I did a very successful UK series called The Darling Buds of May. The first episode aired on a Sunday night; on Monday morning, my life changed. I couldn’t even ride the tube.

How did you end up in Hollywood? 

I had a small part in a movie called The Phantom [in 1996] with Billy Zane. I only shot about three days at Universal Studios, but I had a six-month work visa. I thought, Oh, I’ve got a visa. That means I can stay and meet an agent and show people my work. So, after those three days, I went home, sold my house and car and gave my two cats to my mom. I knew this was my lot in life.

By age 28, you were a star thanks to The Mask of Zorro and had met your husband [Michael Douglas] at a film festival. Did you worry about peaking too soon? 

Well, it was a big year for me, and I’ve always been ambitious. I do think you get better as you get older as an actress. But if I hadn’t peaked at that young age, I don’t know if I would have been able to relax in my 30s as a woman and a wife. Because when I had my children, I wanted them to have as normal a life as possible.

What did “a normal life” entail? 

Michael’s mother [actress Diana Douglas] was from Bermuda so soon after our kids were born, we moved out of the States and put them in schools there. It’s a British colony, so I got to drive on the correct side of the road! And it was very close to New York. We were there for 10 years, and it was a profoundly wonderful time. I knew I’d never get those years back. I missed my childhood, but I didn’t want to miss my motherhood.

You also won an Oscar in 2003 for playing Velma Kelly in Chicago. How did that affect you? 

I was completely honored and stunned and thrilled. Musicals are either very good or horrid. There is no grey area. So, to be lauded in that way was very fulfilling. Chicago was also the capstone for all my years doing musical theater. I loved that my passion was put on celluloid and encapsulated forever. Did it take the pressure off? I guess it did. It made me OK with all my life choices.

What’s the most nervous you’ve ever been on a set? 

Oh my gosh. I do a self-exorcism before every shoot. I make my husband so nervous. Then after the first day, I’m fine. But you know, I’ve worked with some really great talents. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts were all in [2004’s] Ocean’s Twelve. But I’d have to say [I was nervous] doing [2004’s] The Terminal because I had both Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. The two of them together? That’s big.

Does Michael offer words of encouragement in those situations? 

We never talk or discuss work. Well, he gave me advice one time. I played Griselda Blanco in a [2017] Lifetime movie called Cocaine Godmother. She was a drug lord. I was going to Vancouver to shoot it and as I was leaving, he said, “Just remember, honey—you don’t have to do a lot. Because you’re terrifying when you don’t do anything.” I’ll take that!

Why haven’t you two ever done a joint project? 

Well, we were both in Traffic. We weren’t on screen together, but it was very special for us because I was pregnant with my son during filming. I was so excited to work with Steven Soderbergh and would have read the phone book for him. I asked if he could add my pregnancy to the story. And he said yes. I’m giant in it!

Do you watch a lot of movies together? 

We do a complete binge on our comfy couch before we cast our ballots for the Oscars. Oh my gosh, we loved Licorice Pizza last year. But we really don’t do that a lot. We like to watch basketball and soccer and tennis and way too much news and political commentary. We love to travel, but we’re both homebodies.

How does it feel to be empty nesters? 

You know the age-old story that it goes by so quick? It does! I just don’t know how it happened. But we’ll be together for the holidays. We like to eat and play board games. And the day after Christmas, we always go to a friend’s house in the Caribbean.

Given their DNA, it’s pretty surprising that your kids aren’t actors. 

They’d love to join the business! My son has done theater production since high school. They’ve both been to drama camp. But they also love learning and are history buffs. My son graduated from Brown University this year and he studied political science. He’s doing internships and working on political PACs. My daughter is currently studying foreign relations and diplomacy at school. They got their brains from me, though my husband likes to differ.

It’s also a lot of pressure to have two famous parents, no? 

My kids know that daddy and mommy are part of a very small percentage of a huge industry that actually got to a certain point. And they know about celebrity-dom. So, they don’t want to be famous; they just want to be good actors. But look, it’s hard to be the son or daughter of anybody. You don’t have to be in Hollywood.

And of course, their grandfather was Kirk Douglas. What did you all learn from him? 

I wish the whole world could have just sat next to my father-in-law like I did for 20 years and just listened to his stories. There’s a real Hollywood legend. This ragman’s son and Russian Jewish immigrant became Kirk Douglas! And when you live to be 103, those long-term memories of the names and situations and the dramas of the Hollywood system are just fascinating.

You played Olivia de Havilland in Feud, which was a series about Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Those were his peers! 

I mean, I had no research to do. He knew everybody! Kirk would tell us how rough it was for him doing 10 movies a year. And it was even tougher for women. You get hot and you’re put in this meatpacking cattle-herding machine. Then it all stops and you’re shushed away. God forbid you were in your 30s or you’re playing a mother.

Doesn’t it make you grateful that you came up in the business when you did? 

You know, Kirk had a wonderful American dream story, and I have a bit of it too. I’m still very British. I’m not American. I just wanted to go to America. And it’s been a terrifying and uncertain and thrilling and exciting ride. America has been very good to me, and I’m forever indebted and humbled for it.

And All That Jazz

Most beloved movie 

Mary Poppins [from 1964] because it’s so British. It used to come on TV every Christmas, so it’s instilled from my childhood.

Last TV binge 

We did Breaking Bad. It was a long time ago, but it was the only one where we were like “We must get to the end!” I love Bryan Cranston so much.

Secret career Plan B 

I’d love to have a chance in my life to be that person on stage in a stadium during a concert. I’d be a cross between Carly Simon, Adele and Alicia Keys, just sitting at the piano and rocking out.

I’m pretty good at . . . 

I’m a bit of a set decorator in my homes. I’m always online going down a rabbit hole looking at colors and fabrics and trims.

I’m not very good at . . . 

Cooking! I can measure milk and eggs and flour and mix it and stick it in the oven, OK? But I can’t just open the cupboards and prepare something in your house. That, to me, is cooking.

Favorite Michael Douglas movie

Falling Down [from 1993] because it was a very dangerous role for him. He was so good in movies before that, but this role [a broken middle-aged man] showed a different dimension. I remember seeing it and thinking that’s a really interesting Michael Douglas.

Favorite Catherine Zeta-Jones movie 

Every now and then, Chicago will come up on the TV feed. It always brings a warm fuzzy feeling in my tummy. No Reservations [from 2007] was really fun, too.

My vacation destination

I love India. It’s so diverse. It was one of those places that I always wanted to go and once I did, it was everything and more than I anticipated. I loved the food and the culture and diversity.

Last time I asked for an autograph 

After I gave Adele her Oscar, I asked her to sign a piece of paper. I didn’t say it was for me! I also have a photograph of us backstage, so I made a little shadowbox of the items.