Catherine Zeta-Jones 'dipping toes' into art collecting ahead of new role

Catherine Zeta-Jones has revealed she has taken up art collecting - a hobby that mirrors her latest film role.

The actor stars as an art consultant in The Gallerist, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last month.

She said it reflected what had become a growing personal fascination for her and she now owns work by sculptor Henry Moore and contemporary artist Marc Quinn.

Swansea-born Zeta-Jones said her social circle in New York, where she lives with fellow actor and husband Michael Douglas, included more "art people" than in LA.

"I've lived on the East Coast and for many, many years with Michael, I've never been in LA schmoozing," she told People magazine.

"I spend more time with New York business people, Wall Street people, art people."

Zeta-Jones said she had become increasingly drawn to The Big Apple's art scene, describing herself as "a bit of an eclectic collector".

"I've kind of been dipping my toes in that world," she said.

For their shared birthday, Douglas bought her a piece by Quinn, whose most expensive work to date is Myth Venus (2006) - a sculpture of model Kate Moss that sold for $1,325,000 at Christie's New York in 2014.

He was also commissioned to make the fourth plinth installation, Alison Lapper Pregnant, in Trafalgar Square in 2004.

"I like sculpture," said Zeta-Jones. "I have a Henry Moore, which I'm very proud of that Kirk, my father-in-law, gave Michael and I for one of our joint birthdays, and we love it very much."

The Ocean's Twelve star said she also frequents flea markets and buys artwork while travelling.

"I always like to buy a little something from everywhere I go, just as a reminder," she said.

Her interest in art contrasts with the darker themes of The Gallerist, in which she plays an art consultant caught up in a scheme to sell a dead body as an artwork.

The comedy-thriller also stars Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, Charli xcx and Zach Galifianakis.