Catherine Zeta-Jones spoke to the Daily Echo about her long friendship with the chair of Hampshire Cricket and how important it was for her to be there to see his dream come true.

Speaking at the official opening of the new Hilton Hotel at the Ageas Bowl, Catherine told how Rod Bransgrove, the chairman of Hampshire Cricket Club, and wife Mandy had been there for her throughout her career since they met when she was 17.

• Catherine Zeta-Jones at the Ageas Bowl - in pictures >>

She and Mandy starred together in a production of 42nd Street together and the couple have been close friends for many years, even attending her marriage.

"Mandy and Rod Bransgrove are really genuine family members to me, she said.

"They have had their protective wing over me since I was 17 years old when I first started out in the business.

"He asked me to do it a long time ago when it's finished.

"Then I got a call a few months ago, four months ago.

"He said 'Well, I think we're pretty close now' and I said 'well let me know when I need to get on a plane' so here I am.

• Catherine Zeta-Jones opnes Hilton Hotel at the Ageas Bowl >>

"It's full circle you know.

"They were there for me for my first night in Broadway when I won the Toni.

"The first email and phone call I got when I won the Oscar.

"It's like my dream came true there, I have seen his dream come true today which is amazing.

"To know me before anybody else really knew me - it's a friendship I really cherish."

She said she "absolutely loved" the hotel which she stayed in last night and also got a private tour of today and was booked in for the spa this afternoon.

And she also told of her plans to return to the hotel with husband Michael again.

"Definitely," she said.

"And when the completion of the golf course is done - that's the carrot that Rod holds in front of my nose 'don't forget next year we'll have the golf course up and running'.

"I'll be coming back before then but that's a big bonus for me to play my 18 holes."

Although not getting the chance to watch cricket while stateside, Catherine said her and husband Michael were huge sports fans.

"Michael and I are sports fans for the very reason that we never know what the ending is.

"We can usually figure out the ending of a film - usually through the grapevine we've read the script before it even gets put on to the screen.

"Plays when we go to Broadway we pretty much know what's going on but with sport you never know.

You never want to go and put the kettle on halfway through a game just in case you come back and it's all changed - that's exciting.

"That's our R and R."

Catherine said she is waiting to shoot a film called Godmother about a female drug baron and is also starring in a film called Dad's Army due out in January.

She has been holidaying with all the family in Spain before returning to the UK for a few days.

"I do miss the UK but the UK comes to me," she said.

"All my family and friends love coming to visit me which I love so I don't spend as much time as I used to in the UK now my children are in school, but I call here every other day.

"It's important for me to bring my children back too especially to Wales."