<P> Twenty years later , Montero returns to California as a civilian , alongside Elena ( Catherine Zeta - Jones ) who has grown into a beautiful woman and resembles her late mother . Montero 's reappearance motivates de La Vega to escape from prison . He encounters a thief , Alejandro Murietta ( Antonio Banderas ) who , as a child , saved Zorro 's life during his last fight . De la Vega decides that fate has brought them together , and agrees to make Alejandro his protégé , grooming him to be the new Zorro . Alejandro agrees to undergo de La Vega 's training regimen in Zorro 's lair underneath the ruins of his family estate in order to be able to take revenge on Captain Harrison Love ( Matt Letscher ) Montero 's right - hand man , who was responsible for killing Alejandro 's brother , Joaquin ( Victor Rivers ) . </P>
<P> Twenty years later , Montero returns to California as a civilian , alongside Elena ( Catherine Zeta - Jones ) who has grown into a beautiful woman and resembles her late mother . Montero 's reappearance motivates de La Vega to escape from prison . He encounters a thief , Alejandro Murietta ( Antonio Banderas ) who , as a child , saved Zorro 's life during his last fight . De la Vega decides that fate has brought them together , and agrees to make Alejandro his protégé , grooming him to be the new Zorro . Alejandro agrees to undergo de La Vega 's training regimen in Zorro 's lair underneath the ruins of his family estate in order to be able to take revenge on Captain Harrison Love ( Matt Letscher ) Montero 's right - hand man , who was responsible for killing Alejandro 's brother , Joaquin ( Victor Rivers ) . </P>
who plays elena in the mask of zorro
who plays elena in the mask of zorro
Catherine Zeta - Jones
Catherine Zeta - Jones