Catherine Zeta-Jones: It was ‘special’ to film in Welsh hometown for first time

Catherine Zeta-Jones said it was “very special” to film in her hometown of Swansea for the first time, adding that it “helped so much” to use her Welsh accent in a role.

The 57-year-old actress stars in a new thriller series as Jackie Price, a former cocaine dealer faced with the threat of assassination by a squad of ruthless hitmen when her past catches up with her.

Kill Jackie was set and filmed in Spain, Portugal and England as well as Wales, marking the first time in Zeta-Jones’ career that she has filmed a drama in her home country and used her own accent in a role.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is known for roles in Chicago and Ocean’s Twelve (Ben Birchall/PA)

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Zeta-Jones, best known for her Oscar-winning role in musical movie Chicago, reflected on how it felt filming in the city where she was born and raised while speaking to the Press Association.

“The most poignant moment for me was walking down the streets of Swansea, not just as Jackie, but as me,” she said.

“Going home to a place that I love, doing what I love to do. That was very, very special.”

Zeta-Jones has had a decades-long film and TV career including roles in Ocean’s Twelve, Mask Of Zorro and Entrapment, but has predominantly used British, American or various other accents in her work.

The star said: “It’s very rare we Welsh actors get to use our own accent.

“Being able to portray Jackie in my accent helped me so much because it grounded me in the character and allowed me to be freer with ad-libbing, body language and the humour.

“It contributed so much.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones described walking down the streets of Swansea was ‘poignant’ as she returned to her hometown for her new TV series (Ian West/PA)

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Kill Jackie is based on the novel The Price You Pay by Nick Harkaway, using his pseudonym Aidan Truhen, with Zeta-Jones playing a female version of main character Jack.

The actress told PA: “I love that she was this dangerous woman and that I was playing a woman originally written as a man, because the nuances of that were very exciting to me.

“Although Jackie has lived and worked on the wrong side of the law, inherently she’s a good person and has a vulnerability to her.

“I’ve loved playing all those different facets, the comedic, real, vulnerable, high-octane stunts and action.

“It’s been exhausting but incredibly fulfilling. She’s a badass!”

The eight-part crime series also stars The Gentlemen and Lovesick actor Daniel Ings and has been directed by Killing Eve’s Damon Thomas, with Zeta-Jones among the executive producers.