- J ones ▁asp ired ▁to ▁be ▁an ▁actress ▁from ▁a ▁young ▁age . ▁As ▁a ▁child , ▁she ▁played ▁roles ▁in ▁the ▁West ▁End ▁produ ctions ▁of ▁the ▁musical s ▁An nie ▁and ▁B ugs y ▁Mal one . ▁She ▁studied ▁musical ▁theatre ▁at ▁the ▁Arts ▁Edu c ational ▁School s , ▁London ▁and ▁made ▁her ▁stage ▁break through ▁with ▁a ▁leading ▁role ▁in ▁a ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁production ▁of ▁ 4 2 nd ▁Street . ▁Her ▁screen ▁debut ▁came ▁in ▁the ▁un success ful ▁French - Ital ian ▁film ▁ 1 0 0 1 ▁N ights ▁( 1 9 9 0 ), ▁and ▁she ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁find ▁greater ▁success ▁as ▁a ▁regular ▁in ▁the ▁British ▁television ▁series ▁The ▁Dar ling ▁Bud s ▁of ▁May ▁( 1 9 9 1 – 1 9 9 3 ). ▁D ism ay ed ▁at ▁being ▁type cast ▁as ▁the ▁token ▁pretty ▁girl ▁in ▁British ▁films , ▁Z eta - J ones ▁re located ▁to ▁Los ▁Angeles . ▁ ▁Z eta - J ones ▁established ▁herself ▁in ▁Hollywood ▁with ▁roles ▁that ▁highlight ed ▁her ▁sex ▁appeal , ▁such ▁as ▁in ▁the ▁action ▁film ▁The ▁M ask ▁of ▁Z or ro ▁( 1 9 9 8 ) ▁and ▁the ▁he ist ▁film ▁Ent rap ment ▁( 1 9 9 9 ). ▁She ▁received ▁acc laim ▁for ▁her ▁performances ▁as ▁a ▁ven ge ful ▁pre gn ant ▁woman ▁in ▁Tra ffic ▁( 2 0 0 0 ) ▁and ▁a ▁murder ous ▁singer ▁in ▁the ▁musical