You might be forgiven if you can’t quite place Catherine Zeta-Jones by her accent. In “The Mask of Zorro,” she has a convincing Spanish lilt. In “No Reservations,” she nails the staccato of a New York chef. And her hard-boiled Midwestern sass in “Chicago” helped her win an Oscar.
But for her latest project, the revenge thriller series “Kill Jackie” (available in Canada on Amazon Prime), she returns to her natural intonation and her native land: Wales. It was the first time she had shot there, and the first time she had played a role using her own accent, she said in a video interview.
Zeta-Jones, 57, spent her childhood in the South Wales city of Swansea and the nearby beach town Mumbles. She moved to London at 16 after landing a role in the West End production of “42nd Street,” the start of a career that would take her to Hollywood and beyond.
Over the decades, she has kept a tight bond with Wales, trying to make it back often. She and her husband, Michael Douglas, also sent their two children there to stay with family for several weeks a year. “I feel very connected to my country after being away for so long,” she said, “because my mother is still there, my father, my brother, my cousins, my nieces, my nephews. We have a very tight-knit community and family.”
Wales, known for its distinctive culture and language, myth-inspiring landscapes, and attractions like an 870-mile coastal path and the pastel-painted theme village Portmeirion, claims to have more castles per square mile than any other country. But it’s hardly contending with armies of tourists. In 2024, it welcomed 929,000 international visitors, compared with, for example, Scotland’s 4.4 million.
“We rather love the fact that we are a little bit of a secret,” Zeta-Jones said. “On the other hand, we like to promote how beautiful our country is, and how individual it is within the British Isles.” There is a reason, she added, that future kings of England have traditionally held the title of Prince of Wales.
Here are five of Zeta-Jones’ favourite places in Wales.
1. Johnnies Fish & Chips
This no-nonsense counter service restaurant in Mumbles, not far from her parents’ home, stands out for its delicious cod — Zeta-Jones prefers hers with salt and vinegar, not tartar sauce — and “ordinary” atmosphere, she said. “You go in, or sometimes you may have to queue up,” she said. “Come rain or shine, we’ll stand outside and queue up for Johnnies Fish & Chips.”
2. Joe’s Ice Cream
Joe’s Ice Cream, whose St. Helen’s Road location in Swansea opened in 1922, is famous for its luscious Italian-gelato-inspired vanilla, still made using the original recipe. The chain now has dozens of flavours, including chocolate and raspberry ripple. It also has several locations in the area, including one in Mumbles, which Zeta-Jones visits when she’s in town. “It’s the best ice cream, and I’ve gone all over the world,” she said, adding, “There’s nothing in the gelato world that could even touch Joe’s Ice Cream.”
3. Worms Head
Worms Head juts out into the ocean about 20 miles west of Swansea, near a popular surfing beach. Its name is believed to be derived from a Norse word meaning dragon or sea monster, not the squiggly garden creatures. To reach the island, visitors must cross a causeway that floods at high tide. But it’s not a hard walk, Zeta-Jones said, and there are gorgeous views and “lots of sheep.” On your way back to Swansea, swing by the wide, sandy beach at Three Cliffs Bay — but stay out of the water, which can be dangerous, she said. Instead, either bring food for a picnic or “find a nice spot to have some pub grub.”
4. Cardiff Castle
This fortress in the Welsh capital, Cardiff, dates back to the first century, when the Romans built a series of forts at the site. The castle grew into a medieval fortification, then became a palace for the Marquess of Bute, who sheltered residents of Cardiff from Nazi air raids during World War II. Now, the castle, open to the public, offers tours and events. “The government did a beautiful job on its restoration,” Zeta-Jones said, emphasizing the preservation of the interiors. “It hosts amazing outdoor concerts,” she added.
5. The Celtic Manor Resort
An avid golfer, Zeta-Jones is drawn to the Celtic Manor Resort, in Newport, about 17 miles northeast of Cardiff. The resort, which has three championship golf courses, hosted the Ryder Cup in 2010, where she appeared at the opening ceremony. The Twenty Ten course, built for the Ryder Cup, is “a very hard course if you’re an amateur,” but, she added, even if you’re not a pro, playing there is “something very special.”
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
