The Mask of Zorro was set to be the summer blockbuster. Reintroduce Antonio Bandares to box office success. Allow Anthony Hopkins one more role to conquer. Oh, and that girl. But that girl with the hyphenated last name, was most certainly the biggest story to come from the film. Her rise to success was most certainly launched with Zorro, and most certainly everyone who left the theatre wondered aloud, "Who is that girl?"
Catherine Zeta-Jones is that girl. Catherine was born and raised in Swansea, Wales. Her mother - an Irish seamstress. Her father - a Welsh factory manager. Early on Catherine showed an interest in entertainment. She sang and danced her way to local stardom before she was ten years old, as a part of a Catholic congregation's performing troupe. The stage called the young beauty and performances in Annie, Bugsy Malone, and The Pajama Game would follow.
The taste of stage success was sweet. Catherine soon relocated to London at just fifteen years of age. She took a role as understudy to the understudy in a production of 42nd Street. But her lucky stars lined up one fateful evening, and both of the stars she was "understudying" grew sick. She nailed the performance to such an extent that the show's producer wanted her and only her to be the star. But her biggest break yet was still to come.
She was cast in a Yorkshire TV series - The Darling Buds of May. It quickly became a runaway smash in Britain and Catherine's starring role, mixed with her beautiful looks, made her a favorite in the UK. The series wrapped after just three years, but the gears were already set into motion. Catherine's name was out, and small roles in Hollywood cinema were already making their way to her doorstep. Splitting Heirs, Christopher Columbus: The Discovery, The Phantom (with Billy Zane) and the tv series Titanic and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles are just a few of her accomplishments.
Her rising fame didn't come without any hitches, however. She was continually chased by the infamous British tabloids, and the constant invasion into her personal life caused her to grab her bags and head to Hollywood, what would be a great move in the end.
While performing in the Titanic miniseries, Catherine's performance caught the eye of director Steven Spielberg. Spielberg, knowing that Martin Campbell was about to pursue a film renovation of the old television series "Zorro" called and recommended Catherine for the role of Elena Montero (the female lead in the film). Who turns down Steven Spielberg? Martin Campbell didn't, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Since the Zorro film, Catherine's most well known role, aside from performances in Entrapment and The Haunting, has been that of Michael Douglas' girlfriend. The oddly matched couple are currently expecting a child and soon to be wed. The tabloids here have been very "un-understanding" of this relationship and photographed and questioned the couple every step along the way.
With fame, comes a price, my dear Catherine!
Local Stars
Yui Ichikawa
* Nickname: Yui-nyan
* Profession: Actress, singer and 'gravure idol' (japanese term: swimsuit/bikini model)
* Date of Birth: 10 February, 1986 (Aquarius)
* Birthplace: Tokyo
* Height: 158 cm
* Measurements: B85 W55 H80 cm (B33.5 W21.5 H31.5 inches)
* Blood type: A
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First recorded song was Love Me Again under Octo-Arts in 1986 as Chona Velasquez. It got cold response.
At early elementary age, Regine joined various singing competitions in provinces around the country. Out of 200 competitions she entered, she won 67 of them.
She credits her singing talent t
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