SWANSEA WILL BE HOME FOR STAR – ALWAYS
SHE’S won an Oscar, has starred in countless blockbuster hits and is in one of Hollywood’s most glittering marriages. But Catherine Zeta-Jones has her feet firmly planted on the Welsh ground – saying she will always call Swansea her home.
The A-lister, who is married to actor Michael Douglas, was speaking via a video message as she accepted the Swansea Lord Mayor’s Honour for services to Swansea internationally.
Zeta-Jones, who sent her video of thanks from New York City, said: “There’s no place like home – and what a wonderful, wonderful place to call home. I believe it’s not what I have done for Swansea, but what Swansea has done for me.”
Catherine’s parents, Pat and David, were at the event – “flying the flag for me” – to pick up the award from Lord Mayor David Hopkins on her behalf.
She added: “It’s a truly wonderful honour, Lord Mayor Councillor David Hopkins and Lady Mayoress Beverley, thank you for considering me.
“I love Swansea. I named my son, Dylan, after our Swansea boy, Dylan Thomas, and my daughter Carys after the Welsh word ‘caru’, which means ‘to love’. And I truly love Swansea.
“I fly the flag wherever I go and I still and always will call Swansea home.”
The message captivated the audience at the Lord Mayor’s Summer Honours Ball held in the Brangwyn Hall where stars of screen, sport, stage and local communities were honoured for their contributions to Swan- sea. Others recognised at the event included Swans legend Alan Curtis, film director Kevin Allen and Mayhill community activist Anne Stevens.
The award comes in a year which has seen Zeta-Jones star in a film version of the classic ’70s sitcom, Dad’s Army.
And earlier this year, there was controversy surrounding her casting as a Latina woman in The Godmother – beating Jennifer Lopez to the role.
Reports suggested t the decision to cast her as Colombian drug cartel boss Griselda Blanco, instead of the Hispanic actress, led to a discrimination row.
Executive producer Bernard Koppes said: “Jennifer Lopez had a campaign going to get t the role because she thought it would get h her an Oscar. She lobbied that she was perfect for the role because this is a Latin woman, but she was told it’s too challenging, that she doesn’t have the acting quality to pull it off.”
The film will focus on gangster Griselda Blanco who was murdered in Colombia in 2012 after cornering the cocaine market throughout the 1970s and 1980s in Southern Florida.
Zeta-Jones won a best supporting actress Oscar in 2003 for the film Chicago.
TWIN TOWN WILL RETURN – PAGE 20