Voluptuous Welsh star Catherine Zeta-Jones doesn't seem to mind dabbling in the less appealing side of human behaviour.

She may be one half of a Hollywood power couple and a member of the film industry's A-list, but this 34-year-old mother-of-two isn't prepared to trade solely on her looks.

Her latest role, as a calculating gold-digger in the Coen brothers' Intolerable Cruelty, shows that it's still about acting.

This glitzy romantic comedy follows on the heels of her Oscar-winning performance as the bold and brassy Velma in Chicago and her cool-headed druglord's wife in the acclaimed Traffic.

George Clooney plays a jaded Los Angeles divorce lawyer who falls for the serial gold-digging ex-wife (Zeta-Jones) of one of his clients in this tongue-in-cheek look at greed and infidelity, Beverly Hills style.

Produced and directed by art-house favourites Joel and Ethan Coen, this is a dark pastiche of classic screwball comedies from Preston Sturgess to Howard Hawks, wrapped in the Coen's distinctive edgy style.

The thought of working for the creators of such acclaimed indies as Fargo and The Man Who Wasn't There, as well as having a laugh with gorgeous George, was irresistible for Zeta-Jones.

You take a piece of material like this, then you get Joel and Ethan (Coen) in that equation, then George (Clooney).

Just that whole equation was really exciting to me," says Zeta-Jones.

It's all about trying to keep it interesting as far as her screen performances go says the British star.

Apology

There's only so many ball breakers and murderesses I can play. It's about trying to mix it up. Like when I was offered Traffic, that was amazing because it wouldn't be what you'd think would be given to me.

At the Los Angeles premier of Intolerable Cruelty, Zeta-Jones gave a tongue-in-cheek apology to the well-heeled citizens of Beverly Hills for the film.

Her hard-hearted, very Tinseltown character Marylin Rexroth seeks financial security through serial matrimony.

These things happen all over the world but what a great backdrop to have Hollywood in our movie.

I know people who are divorced and have really nice houses," she laughs.

But don't look for indications of any specific individuals in her character, says Zeta-Jones.

I didn't model my character on anyone in particular - and even if I did I wouldn't give their names."

While the film has a pretty pessimistic take on matrimony, Zeta-Jones, married to actor/producer Michael Douglas who is 25 years her senior, says marriage has to be taken a day at a time.

The only advice I can give is just keep a clear head and be nice to each other."

Working with the suave George Clooney was a lot of fun, she adds. "I think the first scene we did was the one in the restaurant and it was like, 'Hi, nice to meet you'. It was just a very easy working experience."

Being on a Coen brothers film is like being with family, says Clooney, who also starred in their O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

It's not just a bunch of people, it's family. It takes a very short time to feel comfortable," he says. "With Catherine, from the minute we started we had fun."

Of the battle-of-the-sexes theme, he says: "I think the characters are romantic, they go in with eyes wide open and do it anyway. Well I think they're romantic in a Coen brothers way."

The film certainly looks at infidelity Hollywood-style with a jaundiced eye. In one scene Clooney addresses a lawyers' convention, announcing, "Love need cause us no fear".

I hope people just enjoy it, then go home and take a look at their marriage," says Zeta-Jones.

Certainly Zeta-Jones is one of those Hollywood stars who seems to effortlessly juggle the demands of motherhood and stardom. She and Douglas have a three-year-old son Dylan, and a new baby daughter. She was pregnant with Carys during the making of Intolerable Cruelty.

My little three-year-old makes me feel very special. To have a little boy telling me I have the prettiest eyes he has ever seen," she enthuses about motherhood.

I'm having a great time with my children, I have a little lady-in-waiting who is going to drive her dad mad in 15 years.

The family often live in Bermuda (Douglas' mother is Bermudian) but Zeta Jones has no time to lie around in the sun.

Next up she's doing a Steven Spielberg project with Tom Hanks called Terminal, in which she plays a flight attendant. Hanks is also linked to the Coen brothers' next project, a reworking of the Peter Sellers/Alec Guinness classic The Ladykillers.

To say that Catherine Zeta-Jones has it all is something of an understatement at the moment. She admits that she's surprised at being so successful, but worked hard for it.

I'm lucky, but it seems the harder I work the luckier I get. It was something that I so wanted to do that I've just been pursuing it all my life."

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