It's my night! Catherine Zeta-Jones shimmered in an ice blue Versace gown as she accepted the best actress gong at the Tony AwardsShe is a Commander of the British Empire after being recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours at the weekend.
But after only a day with her new title, Catherine Zeta-Jones gave a less than dignified performance in New York that left many viewers cringing in their seats.
The 40-year-old Welsh star won leading actress at the Tony Awards - the theatre equivalent of an Oscar - for her role in Broadway musical A Little Night Music.
In her excitement, Miss Zeta-Jones gave a gushing speech that included an unusually intimate tribute to her 66-year-old husband Michael Douglas.
Overjoyed: Catherine accepts the award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in A Little Night Music from actress Bebe Neuwirth, centre, and actor Nathan Lane'See that man there? He's a movie star and I get to sleep with him every night,' she said, dressed in an elegant ice-blue strapless dress and heavily made up after performing a number from her show earlier at the awards.
The 3,000-plus crowd at the Radio City Music Hall roared their approval.
It was only later she realised the entire ceremony - including the comments she admitted were 'crass' - was broadcast across the U.S on Sunday, the day after she received her CBE for services to the film industry and charity.
The actress said later: 'It wasn't the most elegant thing to say, was it? I was so caught up in the moment I don't think I knew what I was saying. I had no control what was coming out of my mouth.
'Standing up there I felt speechless but obviously I said something but it was such a surprise that my brain didn't really connect to my mouth.
'What I said about Michael was heartfelt. Although thinking about it now I can't believe I said something as crass as that.'
Tribute: Catherine didn't forget to thank the movie star husband she gets to sleep with every night, but she may come to regret being quite so candidShe said: 'I can't believe I said something like that. Just can't believe I said something as crass as that'.
Then she threw her head back, laughed, and added: 'Boy, I could have said something worse and then I'd really be in trouble.
'Mind you, the problem with saying that I get to sleep with Michael every night is that it was done on television and it's on tape forever'.
There was further amusement at the star-studded award ceremony as Tom Cruise's wife Katie Holmes towered over Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe.
The audience laughed as the pair appeared alongside each other to present an award to Scarlett Johansson.
Zeta Jones and Douglas have two children Dylan Michael, 9, and Carys Zeta, 7, and have been married for almost ten years.
The star won for her role, playing an actress, in the musical A Little Night Music. She admitted she was having trouble taking it all in.
Winning moment: Catherine was shocked at her win as she was not the favourite'I'm in a state of shock to be totally honest with you. I can't believe I won the Tony Award.I couldn't believe I'd been nominated with a group of such great actresses,' she said.
Zeta Jones then clutched her Tony trophy tighter and joked:'I'm wearing Versace and a Tony right here', as she cradled it to her chest.
It was an evening that saw London productions and British actors win a raft of golden gongs at the Tonys including honours for actors Douglas Hodge and Eddie Redmayne.
Scarlett Johansson was another movie star who won a Tony. She collected hers for best supporting actress for her role in A View from the Bridge.
Red carpet drama: Catherine keeps her smile in place despite clumsy David Furnish, Elton John's partner, treading on her stunning gown
Oh what a show: Catherine performed a number from the musical A Little Night Music at the awards ceremony in New YorkThe winners include...
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play: Denzel Washington, Fences.
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play: Viola Davis, Fences.
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical: Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles.
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical: Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music.
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Scarlett Johansson - A View From A Bridge
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play: Eddie Redmayne - Red
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical: Levi Kreis, Million Dollar Quartet.
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical: Katie Finneran, Promises, Promises.
Best Play: Red
Best Direction Of A Play: Michael Grandage - Red
Best Musical: Memphis
Best Direction Of A Musical: Terry Johnson - La Cage Aux Folles
Best Book of a Musical: Memphis
Best Revival of a Musical: La Cage aux Folles
Best Choreography: Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Best Original Score (Music and/or lyrics) Written for the Theatre: Memphis
Best Orchestrations: Daryl Waters and David Bryan - Memphis
Best Revival of a Play: Fences
Best Scenic Design Of A Play: Christopher Oram - Red
Special Tony Award for Lifetime of Achievement in the theatre: Alan Ayckbourn and Marian Seldes
Regional Theatre Award: The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Waterford, Connecticut
Isabelle Stevenson Award: David Hyde Pierce
Tony Honours for Excellence in the Theatre: B.H. Barry and Tim Viola
source: dailymail
