After appearing in a well-known movie, Catherine Zeta-Jones, a well-known actress from Wales, shared a funny story about her encounter with how ethnic identity is perceived. Although she is proud of her Welsh ancestry and was born and raised in Wales, her performance as a character in "The Legend of Zorro" had an unexpected effect on public perception.

Because Catherine portrayed a Spanish-speaking character in this film, many people assumed she was Hispanic. Strangers would frequently address her in Spanish, assuming it was her first language, even after the movie came out. This incident demonstrates the profound impact that roles can have on identity and public perception.

People treat you as though you were that character long after the Halloween event is over, much like when you dress up as that character. In Zeta-Jones' case, she was treated as if her participation in a movie had instantly made her a member of a different culture.

This story also addresses the more general problem of identity and cultural representation in the media. It demonstrates how readily people can be swayed by what they see on screen, sometimes to the extent that it affects how they perceive someone's nationality or background. Zeta-Jones' story serves as a reminder that although actors put a lot of effort into their roles, the general public frequently finds it difficult to tell the difference between fact and fiction.

Overall, even though those perceptions are far from true, Catherine Zeta-Jones uses her own experience to show how influential media can be in forming identity and perceptions.