Catherine Zeta-Jones portrayed Elena de la Vega, the daughter of Don Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins), in the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro.5 In the story, Elena is taken by the corrupt governor Rafael Montero (Stuart Wilson) after her father is imprisoned and her mother is killed, and she is raised by Montero as his own.4 Zeta-Jones' performance in the film was a breakthrough role, earning her critical acclaim and a nomination for the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance.5 She prepared for the role by studying dancing, riding, sword-fighting, and taking Spanish diction lessons, and she found the filming experience challenging due to the heavy corsets and desert conditions, though she considered it worthwhile.5 The film, directed by Martin Campbell, was a commercial success, grossing over $250 million worldwide.5 The character of Elena has since gained renewed attention on social media, with fans praising her beauty and performance decades after the film's release.10 Zeta-Jones reprised her role as Elena in the 2005 sequel, The Legend of Zorro, which was also directed by Campbell.9