Nepo baby is a horrific term, says Zeta-Jones

Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones has declared the phrase "nepo baby" is "horrific".

The Mumbles-born actor told The Sunday Times: "These kids didn't ask to be born into this."

The term nepo baby refers to children of famous parents perceived to have achieved riches and success off their parents' backs.

The 56-year-old is married to Kirk Douglas' son, Michael Douglas, and they have two children - Dylan and Carys - who have both followed their parents into showbiz.

Dylan, she said, was pursuing acting while Carys was interested in directing. She insisted her children were "plugging away".

"You have to go with your dreams, your passion," Zeta-Jones said.

"It's hard for them to forge a way forward on their own.

"This horrific phrase 'nepo baby' is horrible because these kids didn't ask to be born into this, they're finding their own way in life.

"But they love it, and they're good.

"Otherwise, Michael and I would be the first to go, 'you know what? Maybe law school looks really good'."

Zeta-Jones' big break came when she landed a West End role in 42nd Street in 1987, becoming a household name in the UK in 1991 when she starred in ITV hit The Darling Buds Of May with Only Fools and Horses legend David Jason.

She has since become a global superstar, with roles in The Mask Of Zorro, Entrapment, Traffic and 2002's adaptation of Chicago.

"I had a sniff of the joy of being in the theatre so young," she said.

"I went, 'I want to do this. I can't imagine going through school and A-Levels in Swansea.'"

Zeta-Jones met Romancing The Stone star Douglas, 81, at France's Deauville Film Festival, in August 1998.

With a 25-year age gap between them, they were engaged a year later, marrying at The Plaza hotel in New York in 2000.

Dylan was born in 2000 and Carys in 2003.