Catherine Zeta-Jones Says Her Oscar Win for “Chicago” Was 'Totally Unexpected': 'It Blew My Mind'
Zeta-Jones nabbed the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 2003 for her performance as showgirl-turned-murderess Velma Kelly in the 2002 musical film
Zeta-Jones nabbed the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 2003 for her performance as showgirl-turned-murderess Velma Kelly in the 2002 musical film Miramax/courtesy Everett Collection; Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic From L: Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago (2002) and in Hollywood, California, on April 29, 2023:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Catherine-Zeta-Jones-Chicago-Oscar-120624-tout-fd70af509dbd4a9281a718f332331500.jpg "CHICAGO, Catherine Zeta-Jones, 2002 Catherine Zeta-Jones attends Netflix's")
Catherine Zeta-Jones is looking back on the surreal moment she won an Academy Award for her performance in Chicago.
The actress took home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2003 for her performance as showgirl-turned-murderess Velma Kelly in the hit 2002 musical film, which she played opposite Renée Zellweger as Roxie Hart.
During a conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday, Dec. 6, Zeta-Jones said of both her Oscar and Tony Award win, “To be acknowledged by the Broadway lights, that was wonderful. But the Academy Award was something that was totally unexpected. It blew my mind,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Zeta-Jones, 55, nabbed the Tony for best actress in a musical seven years after her Oscar, for her performance as Desiree Armfeldt in the 2009 revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage Catherine Zeta-Jones at the 75th Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 23, 2003
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In her conversation at the Red Sea Film Festival, the Welsh actress discussed her dance and vocal training, beginning when she was a child, including first learning to tap dance at age 4.
“I started very young too in the theater. I’m certainly not a young chick. I’ve been in the industry for a very long time and I’ve loved every minute of it,” she said, per THR.
Zeta-Jones also reflected on collaborating with other dancers on the set of Chicago, a unique (and invaluable) experience compared to her stage training.
“The whole process of the rehearsals, when you think of the screen, all the different angles we had to do for those routines, that collaboration with dancers who felt I speak their language, it was wonderful,” said the Mask of Zorro star.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Mary Evans/MIRAMAX/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger in Chicago (2002)
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Earlier this year, Zeta-Zones reflected on her Oscar moment in a photo on Instagram, remembering how she was just 10 days away from giving birth to her daughter Carys, now 21, when she won.
"21 years ago! Ten days before 'I gotta baby' 'I gotta Oscar,' " the actress wrote in her caption, sharing a photo of herself from the night, posing with her award.
"Good luck to all the nominees tonight and all future mothers!!
