Catherine Zeta-Jones Talks About Her Role as an Art Consultant in Sundance’s The Gallerist and Her Exciting New Collection

Catherine Zeta-Jones in November 2025.

Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage

NEED TO KNOW

• Catherine Zeta-Jones stars in The Gallerist, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24.
• The Cathy Yan-directed comedy features Natalie Portman as a gallerist who conspires to sell a dead body during Art Basel Miami.
• Zeta-Jones is an eclectic art collector, stating, “I’ve been dipping my toes in that world.”

At the Sundance Film Festival premiere of The Gallerist, Catherine Zeta-Jones made an entrance that matched her stylish persona. Co-stars Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega, who play curators hiding a dangerous secret, struggled to keep pace with her commanding presence.

Describing her experience on set, Zeta-Jones shared, “It was a dance, like a choreography piece that kept moving,” adding that her background in choreography enhanced the dynamic of the film, which is set against the unique backdrop of modern art.

Reflecting on the fast-paced filming process typical of Sundance projects, Zeta-Jones remarked, “When I walk in, you kind of know who this woman is, because I don’t have 90 minutes to slowly meander through for you to get to know me.”

In The Gallerist, Zeta-Jones portrays Marianne, an art consultant who becomes embroiled in a devious plan with Portman’s character, a desperate gallerist, as well as Ortega’s assistant. The film’s synopsis indicates it follows a gallerist plotting to sell a dead body at Art Basel Miami.

Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega in ‘The Gallerist’.

Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Zeta-Jones highlighted the film’s engaging narrative, saying, “It was such a great, fun, dark comedy with characters that were flawed and making their way and dealing with consequences — in a world where probably men would get away with things more than they would.” The film features a star-studded cast, including Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Charli xcx, Sterling K. Brown, Daniel Brühl, and Zach Galifianakis.

Expressing her admiration for her co-stars, Zeta-Jones noted, “I know what a joy it is working with Jenna,” referring to Ortega, who plays her on-screen niece in the film. She added, “I have been a huge fan of Natalie, and she was everything that I wanted her to be. Sometimes you want to work with somebody you admire, and you just hope they’re everything you imagined them to be. It’d be so depressing if they weren’t! And she was just extraordinary.”

Zeta-Jones shared her own connection to the art world satirized in The Gallerist, admitting, “I’m a bit of an eclectic collector myself. And I’ve been dipping my toes in that world, and I kind of know how it works.”

Celebrating her shared birthday with husband Michael Douglas, Zeta-Jones mentioned that he gifted her a piece by Marc Quinn, her favorite artist. She elaborated, “I like sculpture. 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.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones in November 2025.

Arnold Jerocki/Getty

The actress also explained her penchant for discovering art, stating she enjoys visiting flea markets to find items that resonate with her. “I always like to buy a little something from everywhere I go, just as a reminder,” she reflected.

Although Zeta-Jones could not attend the 2026 Sundance Film Festival due to travel challenges, she expressed her disappointment at missing the event, stating, “With it being the last time it’s going to be in Utah, I was really bummed about it.” Nonetheless, she supported her co-stars from afar.

(Left-right:) Jenna Ortega, Natalie Portman, Cathy Yan and Charli xcx at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of ‘The Gallerist’ on January 24.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

“This movie was a collaboration from the moment I arrived until I’m talking to you,” Zeta-Jones remarked. “I want to do more of that.”

The 2026 Sundance Film Festival is set to take place from January 22 to February 1 in Park City and Salt Lake City, marking the final year for the festival at its Utah location before relocating to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027. The festival was founded by Robert Redford, who passed away in September 2025.