Jones 'thrilled' by CBE

Catherine Zeta Jones said she is “thrilled” to be made a CBE, and her parents seem pretty chuffed too.

The Oscar-winning screen siren was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to the film industry and to charity.

In a statement, the Hollywood star said: “I am absolutely thrilled with this honour. As a British subject, I feel incredibly proud, at the same time it is overwhelming and humbling.”

She added: “And my mum and dad are delighted beyond belief.”

Known simply as Catherine Jones while growing up around the Mumbles area of Swansea, the more exotic name of Zeta, handed down from her paternal grandmother, injected some star pizzazz and complemented her glamorous raven-haired looks.

The 40-year-old A-lister has had her sights firmly set on her career since childhood.

“I have made a lot of sacrifices in my life – but that’s because I’m so ambitious,” she has been quoted as saying. “I’ve always admitted it. That’s why I’m here today.”

She appeared in school productions and local talent contests and immersed herself in Hollywood stardust by spending her time watching old Grace Kelly films.

Educated at Dumbarton House School in Swansea, Jones decided to head to the bright lights of London at the age of 15, despite the reservations of parents Dai and Pat, to become a West End star.

Renting a flat off Drury Lane, Jones worked her way up from chorus girl to a lead role in the musical 42nd Street.

Her TV breakthrough came in 1990 when, aged 22, she landed a prime-time role as fresh-faced sweetheart Mariette Larkin in ITV’s 'The Darling Buds Of May', working alongside David Jason and Pam Ferris.

Off the screen, the star had a well-documented relationship with former 'Blue Peter' presenter John Leslie.

After leaving The Darling Buds Of May, Jones, who had a short-lived pop career, could have slipped back into obscurity.

Following the well-trodden path of many British actors, Jones moved to Hollywood in 1996 in a bid to break the US.

Where many Brits have failed, she succeeded, after Hollywood director Steven Spielberg noted one of her performances and cast her in the swashbuckling 'The Mask Of Zorro' opposite Antonio Banderas.

Jones’s success was sealed when she landed a starring role in 'Entrapment'.

It was during the making of that film that she fell for her Hollywood prince, Michael Douglas.

They met at the Deauville film festival when Douglas reportedly charmed Jones with the line: “I want to be the father of your children.”

Despite Douglas being 25 years Jones’s senior, the marriage has endured and the couple are seen as one of Hollywood’s strongest power couples.

They tied the knot during a glitzy ceremony in New York in November 2000, although the high-security wedding of the year was gatecrashed by unauthorised photographers, leading to a marathon court battle.

The Douglases have two children together, Dylan and Carys, named in a nod to her Welsh roots.

The children have been raised out of the glare of the spotlight – and two years ago Jones was quoted saying Dylan thought his father made pancakes for a living.

While having a settled family life, Jones’s career has gone from strength to strength, starring in the gritty Steven Soderbergh film 'Traffic', which also starred Douglas, as well as slick blockbuster 'Ocean’s Twelve'.

In the movie 'Chicago', her career came full circle, allowing Jones to showcase the singing and dancing talents which set her on the road to stardom.

In a career highlight, the star scooped the best supporting actress Oscar in 2003 for her role as the ruthless Velma Kelly.

Heavily pregnant at the time, Jones declared in her acceptance speech: “To everybody in Swansea, South Wales – I love you.

“To my son Dylan watching at home, and to my husband who I love, I share this award with you.”

Jones makes regular returns to her native country and in 2006 she and Douglas officially opened the first phase of the Children’s Hospital for Wales, for which she has helped to raise funds as an appeal patron.

Earlier this year Jones was nominated for a Tony Award for best performance by a leading actress in a musical for her role in 'A Little Night Music', her Broadway debut.