Catherine Zeta-Jones' big break 'pure good fortune' after chance encounter

Catherine Zeta-Jones' big break 'pure good fortune' after chance encounter

ByEleri Griffiths

BBC Wales

The producer of a hit TV show says Catherine Zeta-Jones' breakout role came down to "pure good fortune" after he spotted her by chance.

Pip Burley, who worked on the ITV 90s comedy-drama The Darling Buds of May, recalled meeting the Hollywood star in the reception room of his final casting session.

He said he spotted "a beautiful girl" in a yellow dress and invited her to audition for Mariette, despite Jones only being in the building for a light entertainment programme.

"She was a lovely girl, and very smart," Burley explained.

He also revealed that American actor Danny DeVito was once considered to play Pop Larkin, among other unexpected casting twists.

Burley, who also composed the theme song for the series, said he first spotted Swansea-born Jones on the musical 42nd Street as a second understudy.

"We were struck with her," he told BBC Radio Wales.

Originally from Croydon, Burley revealed he found The Darling Buds of May easier to write than to cast, with the role of Mariette proving especially hard as "lots of young actresses just didn't excite us".

At the final casting session at the Yorkshire Television offices in Bloomsbury, he noticed Jones in reception.

After three final women auditioned, Burley explained how the casting director told the group to "make your mind up".

"I said hang about, there was a girl down in reception, dark hair and yellow dress, and he [the casting director] said she wasn't on his list," Burley said.

"So I said for heaven's sake ring down to reception and find out who she is.

"It was pure good fortune and she just stood in the door and smiled."

Darling Buds of May director on discovering Catherine Zeta-Jones

Lois Cernyw sits in for Behnaz Akhgar as she chats to Pip Burley

Burley said Jones won over the room instantly, adding: "I said I think we found our Mariette".

"She admitted she wasn't a great actress to start with, she had a very strong Welsh accent which doesn't always work in showbiz.

"America aren't familiar with it - but it kind of didn't matter with her."

According to Burley, Jones "caught on very quickly" with co-star David Jason saying "she won't be with us for long, she'll be off to Hollywood before you know it".

Asked whether he expected the success of The Darling Buds of May, Burley said: "We were optimistic.

"We had wonderful source material and it wasn't too difficult turning the books into TV episodes."

He said Jason was a "good asset" thanks to his fame from Only Fools and Horses.

But he added that he and the directors also considered Bob Hoskins, Phil Collins, and Danny DeVito for the role of Pop Larkin.

They were drawn to actors with "shortish, cheeky, funny" qualities for the role, he said.