Broadway Beat Tony 2010 Q&A: Catherine Zeta-Jones

The Tony Awards Nominations were announced Tuesday, May 4th and the Tony Awards will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from Radio City Music Hall on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 13, 2010.

The day after the nominations, on Wednesday, May 5th, Broadway Beat talked to nearly all of the nominated stars in advance of a special two-part Broadway Beat Tony Awards extravanganza. Every day, we'll be presenting unedited, raw "Short Takes" sneak peeks of some of these amazing interviews. First up - Catherine Zeta-Jones, nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. Read the transcript of her interview below!

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CZJ: This means so much to me. Just being welcomed into this Broadway community so graciously is an award and nomination in itself. With all these great performances this year, to be singled out with Angela and the cast of the show I do eight times a week and love, it's an honored and I'm humbled. I'm just thrilled! I've had a smile on my face for 48 hours, no, 24 hours (laughs).

Bway Beat: Talk about what it's been like doing 8 shows a week. Is it a difficult thing to do? Talk about being back on the boards again, what's the biggest thrill?

CZJ: Well yeah, when I did it 20 years ago - and I still can't believe it was 20 years ago! - I was actually doing 42nd STREET for two years. But then I had no children. I had no husband. I had no life...I used to drive my Mini to the theater, get there, do the show, drive the Mini back home, wake up, go...you know it was like a hamster on a wheel and so just having my family and trying to...I hate the word juggle, but trying to make, you know, everyone not feel that they've lost their mother to the theater because I'm coming back and I don't want them to be too scared! So that's been the only difficult thing, but everything else has been a joy.

Bway Beat: Has it always been a thrill to be on Broadway?

CTZ: Oh yes, yes, I mean this is why this award feels so great. I mean, if I dreamed a dream where I could be on Broadway with Angela Lansbury, in a Stephen Sondheim musical, with a book by Hugh Wheeler, directed by Trevor Nunn with an extraordinary cast and one of them was a jewel of theater at the Walter Kerr Theater, I couldn't have dreamed of something better. And then getting a Tony nomination for it! It kind of blows my mind, I have to say.

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BroadwayWorld.com is THE place to watch for the best and most comprehensive coverage of the 2010 Tony Awards. Check back daily for new photos, videos and more from all the nominated shows and performers on our mega 2010 site!

Broadway Beat, the popular weekly television program for and about the Theatre World, right here on the web site. Broadway Beat is the premier, award-winning half hour television program covering theatre, music and performers. Each week, the show's popular and knowledgeable host, Richard Ridge, takes you behind-the-scenes for a look at the very best of New York Theatre - on Broadway, and beyond. The show always features beautiful footage shot by video veteran Bradshaw Smith.

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