Catherine Zeta-Jones has described the term "nepo baby" as "horrific," asserting that children of famous parents "didn't ask to be born into this." The phrase typically refers to individuals perceived to have gained success due to their famous parents' influence.
Zeta-Jones, married to Michael Douglas, whose father was screen legend Kirk Douglas, has two children, Dylan and Carys, who have both pursued careers in the entertainment industry. Dylan is focusing on acting, while Carys is interested in directing. "It's hard for them to forge a way forward on their own," Zeta-Jones said in an interview with The Sunday Times, "but they love it, and they're good."
She added that if her children were not talented, she and her husband would be the first to suggest alternative paths. "Otherwise, Michael and I would be the first to go, 'you know what? Maybe law school looks really good,'" she stated.
Zeta-Jones' own career began with a West End role in "42nd Street" in 1987, leading to widespread recognition in the UK for her role in the 1991 ITV series "The Darling Buds of May." She later achieved global stardom with roles in films such as "The Mask of Zorro," "Entrapment," "Traffic," and the 2002 musical "Chicago."
She recalled a young age feeling the "joy of being in the theatre" and deciding it was her desired path, preferring it over completing school. Zeta-Jones met Michael Douglas in 1998, and they married in 2000. Their son Dylan was born in 2000, followed by their daughter Carys in 2003.