37 Wonderful Photos of Catherine Zeta-Jones as Mariette Charlton on the Set of “The Darling Buds of May”
Catherine Zeta-Jones captured the heart of the British public as Mariette Larkin (later Mariette Charlton) on the set of the hit comedy-drama series The Darling Buds of May. Broadcast on ITV between 1991 and 1993, the idyllic 1950s period piece served as the definitive breakout role that propelled her to instant stardom.
Filmed primarily on location in the picturesque village of Pluckley, Kent, the series followed the chaotic, joyful life of the Larkin family. At just 21 years old, Zeta-Jones beat out over 300 hopefuls to play Mariette, the stunning eldest daughter of Pop (David Jason) and Ma Larkin (Pam Ferris). Her character’s central storyline revolved around her romance and eventual marriage to the earnest, straight-laced tax inspector Cedric “Charley” Charlton, played by Philip Franks.
The immense popularity of the show, drawing an astonishing 18 million viewers, subsequently subjected Zeta-Jones to intense British tabloid scrutiny. Weary of being pigeonholed into generic “pretty girl” roles in the UK, she ultimately made the bold move to relocate to Hollywood. The transition proved highly successful, opening the doors to starring roles in blockbuster films like The Mask of Zorro and her Academy Award-winning performance in Chicago.
