Catherine Zeta-Jones made her Broadway debut last night in A Little Night Music, and these are photos from both the curtain call (white gown) and the red carpet (blue gown). I think Catherine looks gorgeous here. There has always been gossip about Catherine, especially in Britain, that she maybe shaved several years off of her official age. There’s also been gossip about some very high-quality plastic surgery. Personally, if she’s gotten anything done, it’s very, very good, because I think she’s looks totally naturally beautiful.
Reviewers were pretty much in agreement about Catherine’s beauty, but some criticized her performance. The Daily Mail, of course, compiled some of the greatest hits of the criticism:
In recent months, Catherine Zeta-Jones has been criticized for dressing years beyond her age. But last night she was every inch the glamorous star as she attended the opening night of her new Broadway show in New York. Dressed in a floor-length navy gown, with plunging neckline, the actress oozed sophistication.
Catherine, 40, kept the accessories simple but stunning with diamond and pearl drop earrings, and an understated slick of lipstick. But while her glamorous looks won her rave reviews in A Little Light Music, and her singing voice was praised, Catherine’s acting was criticised by some.
The Guardian’s Emma Brockes said: ‘While [she] can act and sing, she can’t do both at once in this production – at least not in one take.’
While the AP’s Michael Kuchwara wrote: ‘Zeta-Jones has a throaty, sensuous voice which she uses to good, flirty effect…. She is much better in the musical’s quieter scenes and shines in Act 2 during her rendition of the show’s best-known song, “Send in the Clowns,” a touching moment of grown-up introspection.’
Ben Brantley of The New York Times declared: ‘In addition to being drop-dead gorgeous… Ms Zeta-Jones brings a decent voice, a supple dancer’s body and a vulpine self-possession to her first appearance on Broadway.’
Catherine and husband Michael Douglas have temporarily relocated to the Big Apple while she stars in the play.
The musical, which opened last night, is fast becoming one of the hottest tickets on Broadway, with tickets selling for $300 on eBay. She plays Swedish actress Desirée Armfeldt alongside Angela Lansbury as her mother Madame Armfeldt in the Trevor Nunn revival of the 1973 play.
Catherine began her career on the stage, before finding fame in the TV series The Darling Buds Of May. She told the Evening Standard after last night’s show: ‘I can’t believe it’s taken me 20 years to actually do this. It’s quite shocking because I love the camaraderie and I just love the theatre life. It was just like going back home to a family.’
Asked when she would be performing in front of British theatregoers again, she said: ‘Now it’s back in my blood and I’m back on the boards, it may be sooner than they want it to be.’
Catherine said there were similarities between her own life and that of Desiree, a veteran actress reunited with an ex-lover. She said: ‘I have lived a bit of the life of a gypsy the way that Desiree has. I’ve found the love of life in my husband – I’m not searching for that at this particular point in my life.’
The production means Catherine and her family will spend the next few months living in the New York instead of their usual Bermuda home.
As well as marking her Broadway debut, Catherine will also be promoting her new film The Rebound, which is scheduled for release in April. The romantic comedy stars the actress as a single mother who falls for her children’s babysitter soon after her divorce.
[From The Daily Mail]
I love the while-cream gown that she wears for the play. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, and just seeing pictures of the gown made my mind wander. Hmm… God, I love costume pr0n. I just had a nice little daydream about going back in time to the days when women really dressed like this. I think I would have done well in the corset-wearing past, I really do.
Catherine Zeta-Jones on the red carpet for ‘A Little Night Music’ and at the curtain call, in New York on December 13, 2009. Credit: WENN.
The only thing here that is news to me is that they live in Bermuda.
Thank God she cannot sing and act at the same time – i doubt my food will stay down having to witness that.
I’ve always thought she had a really unusual beauty. But in the first shot from the stage, she does look tight around the eyes. Still, if she had work, it was done much better than most I see on actors of both genders.
One reviewer thought she couldn’t act and sing at the same time. The rest enjoyed her performance.
If she’s had anything done, I was thinking maybe a little Restalane (I have no idea how to spell that) in her smile creases.
Eh, I like her. I thought she was good in Chicago, better than Squinty.
I thought she was great in Chicago. I always get a serious snob vibe from her though, and I’ve heard the rumors about her “real” age for a while now. It shouldn’t matter though, because however old she is, she looks great. A little bit of work maybe, but I agree it’s well done and minimal, not overboard like so many do.
She had one of those early career nose overhauls. I saw her old nose in the miniseries she did about Catherine the Great many years ago.
On playbill.com a few days ago, they had a stunning photo of her in costume for the play. She really does look magnificent in the play.
Love, love, loved her in Chicago!
I like the way she and Michael keep to themselves, don’t seem to be so wrapped up in the Hollywood b.s. It’s refreshing in the current atmosphere of fame-whoro-ama. (I made that word up, but I’m sure it’s a condition that afflicts many these days.)
she definitely had an early career nose job. it was much bigger and wider before. it helped her face a lot. you can see it on any plastic surgery website.
Yeahhhhhhh that’s a matter of opinion. I’m leaning towards, “she can’t sing, can’t dance and definitely can’t act.”
This woman and her husband shouldn’t get a free pass from the media for cheating.
Multitasking is hard, y’all! *said in a Britney Spears voice*
Seriously, like everything in life, that’s just one person’s opinion. I personally loved her in Chicago and would see her in this show if I got the opportunity.
WHO cares? Whatever.
She is a gorgeous, handsome looking woman. What I find interesting is looking at photos of her from few years back compared with now. I would put her at older than 40 as well…there is something about her looks and the way she dresses that give her that look and I also tend to agree she’s had some work. She’ll be a magnificent looking older woman in her 50’s and 60’s as well…
I thought she was awesome in Chicago. She has a really nice, husky, sexy voice, although she might have been made to sound better than she is, since she was starring alongside Squinty.
She looks older than 40 to me, but it might just be because she’s married to a guy 25 years older, so she’s learned to act and dress in a far more “matronly” (or sophisticated, if you’re feeling generous) manner than most of her contemporaries. She’s gorgeous, though.
BTW Catherina IMO is the one of the best actress ever!