THE PHANTOM

CATHERINE ZETA JONES

CATHERINE ZETA JONES (Sala) is the Welsh-born actress who plays the beauteous aviatrix boss of a team of all-female pilots in the service of Xander Drax. However, she isn't quite the bad girl she appears to be.
The actress first came to prominence in the Yorkshire Television comedy/drama series, "The Darling Buds of May," based on the novels by H.E. Bates. From there she rose to become one of the most popular television stars in the United Kingdom.
She has starred in Hallmark Hall of Fame's version of Thomas Hardy's "The Return of the Native," and appeared in the title role of the mini-series "Catherine the Great," directed by Marvin Chomsky on location in Berlin and Vienna.
Jones began her career starring in the West End production of "42nd Street." From there she was discovered by French director Philipe de Broca, who cast her in his film, "Scheherazade." A versatile actress, she next appeared in the films, "Splitting Heirs," "Christopher Columbus: The Discovery," in which she played the great explorer's wife, and the English surfing film "Blue Juice."
She first came to the attention of "The Phantom" director Simon Wincer when he cast her in an episode of the George Lucas television series, "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles."
"The Phantom" is her first screen role in America. "I received a phone call in England from Simon Wincer saying he was sending me a script to look over," Jones recalls. "I never heard from him for quite awhile and I thought, 'I'm gonna get you, Simon.' Then all of a sudden Paramount asked me to come to Hollywood, which is always exciting for us Brits."
According to Wincer, "Catherine read for us and she leapt off the page as Sala."
Who is Sala? According to Catherine, "She's adventureseeking, highly sexually charged, and definitely a fun character. Certainly not evil, but perhaps a bit naughty."
Unfortunately for Sala, The Phantom's romantic interest is elsewhere -- namely Diana Palmer. "A lot of people would agree with me that you always want what you can't have," says Jones, "and for her the Phantom is the ultimate."

TM The Hearst Corporation