Catherine Zeta Jones Balances Her Family and Career

Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has been on the Hollywood A-List since starring in 1998's The Mask of Zorro. Today she's a married mom of two and she works on keeping a sense of balance between her family and career. She talks with Parade magazine this week about how she keeps it all in focus. Here's some highlights:

On have children with husband Michael Douglas:
"...There was one thing I had to be sure of. I turned to [Douglas] and said, 'Do you really want children?' And I thought, for one minute, he was going to say, 'I already have a son, Cameron, and I would have to say goodbye. I remember saying defiantly, 'I cannot live without having children.' And he went, 'Me too.'"

On fighting with her husband and kids:
"Michael and I have been married seven years. I've known him nine years. We've never screamed at each other. We disagree, yeah, but we never shout...I did the screaming thing before. It doesn't work. I've realized hat you can actually say what you need to say. People can tell from the tone of my voice. And my kids know when I raise my finger or do 'the eyes' that I mean it."

On not living in Hollywood:
"I've been told that it's not good for business, but at the end of the day, I'd sacrifice career so my children can go to school without the paparazzi pestering them."

On how her career has changed since having her family:
"When I first came to the States, it was like I'd do anything. I had not a ruthless but a nice kind of ambition....At this point in my life, I actually have a life. If I'm going to do a film, it's got to mean something to my heart."