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Catherine Zeta-Jones is sick of 'being humble' — but there's way more to the story behind her buzzy quotes

Catherine Zeta-Jones attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations screening of <em>Cocaine Godmother.</em> (Photo: Getty Images)
Catherine Zeta-Jones attends SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations screening of Cocaine Godmother. (Photo: Getty Images)

Catherine Zeta-Jones is making headlines Friday for a candid interview she supposedly did with The Mirror.

There’s one specific quote from the actress that’s gaining traction — her declaring she’s over being humble: “I’m sick of f***ing being humble. I really am. ‘So sorry I’m rich. So sorry I’m married to a movie star. So sorry I’m not so bad looking.’ No sorrys. Enough!”

The only issue? Well, Zeta-Jones never gave an interview to The Mirror. That doesn’t mean she didn’t say it, though, but let’s back up.

The quotes are from May when the 48-year-old Cocaine Godmother star chatted with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Zeta-Jones brought up the notion of being humble a couple times during the hourlong chat, but there’s more context to the buzzy sound bite.

“I come from a from a working-class family in Wales and I worked hard to get to where I am,” she told the audience about working hard. “And for many years I think all of us are victims to the fact we’ve all got so humble … and we forget about the work and the hardships that we had to do to get where we were, and the sacrifices we make”

During the Q&A portion, Zeta-Jones discussed the importance of not letting fear hold her back as her career progressed.

“You know what shaped me as an actor? Getting older. … It’s true, for the mere fact that I’m not afraid,” she said. “I genuinely lost my mojo [at one point] … Not careerwise, but here in my belly.”

She continued, “Somewhere along the middle I got frightened again and I started to question myself as an actor and my choices … As I matured as a woman, as a human being, as a mother, as a wife, as a person on the planet — I’m not scared anymore. I’m not scared. And one thing I’m not is humble anymore.”

“I’m sick of f***ing being humble,” she told a roaring crowd. “I really am. ‘So sorry I’m rich. So sorry I’m married to a movie star. So sorry I’m not so bad looking.’ No sorrys. Enough! All that is important to me now is my work.”

The audience ate it up, which you can check out below around the 44-minute mark.

“I get such joy doing good work around good people and no assholes,” she added. “That’s what I love and the rest of my life is a joy because I’ve got two beautiful kids and a healthy, happy husband. And it’s all good, and I’m not going to be humble for that either!”

The Oscar-winning actress continued, “You know what it’s like — if we weren’t actors, if we were sports stars and we won an award we would go, ‘S*** yeah! That was the best work I’ve ever done! I rocked!’ As actors we are like, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry and thanks. Can I say thanks?’ No! And knowing that there’s room for all of us — especially in these days where women have to look out for women. There are enough roles for all of us, there are enough for all of us.”

However, Zeta-Jones called motherhood “the most amazing production I’ve been a part of.” She and Michael Douglas are parents to Dylan, 17, and Carys, 15, both of whom want to be actors.

“I’m so proud because they love the craft. It’s not about fame for them. They’ve been brought up around famous people, they know what that is like and they want the craft,” she revealed. “And it gives me such pride that they get it. They understand that this is not a quick fix … you know what I mean, people get plucked out of nowhere and some of them are very good and deserve to get plucked out of nowhere, but for me the craft is so important — the work, and that’s what I love about my kids.”

“They’re good, they’re so good,” she added. “I’m just truly blessed with two great citizens of the planet and I can’t wait for you all to see which way they’re going to go, because they’re going to go somewhere.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones … just telling it like it is.

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