A new poll of women has shown that it's not just Michael Douglas who thinks that his wife Catherine Zeta Jones is the best looking actress in town by voting her to the top spot in the "World's Most Beautiful Star" list.

The Welsh beauty was the number one choice of 8,000 women worldwide who voted in a new global poll.

The 38-year-old stole the crown from many legendary beauties and has left behind the likes of 1960s actress Brigitte Bardot, who claimed second place.

Those polled were allowed to choose celebrity beauties, alive or dead, as they looked in their heyday. That's why Breakfast at Tiffany's star Audrey Hepburn, who died from cancer aged 63 in 1993, made to the third spot.

Catherine Zeta Jones (photo: from China Daily)

Zeta Jones, the curvy mother of two, effortlessly beat younger beauties such as long-legged Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, 27, who was in 7th place.

She also out-classed the new generation of actresses including Jessica Biel, 25, who was in 20th place, and Sienna Miller, 26, (28th place).

The hottest celebrities of today could not compete with the classical beauties of past Hollywood eras, with the late Marilyn Monroe and Dame Elizabeth Taylor, 75.

Surprisingly, winner of most of the beauty polls, Angelina Jolie, did not figure anywhere in the top 50. In fact, both of Brad Pitt's ex-flames Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow also missed out on a place.

"Catherine Zeta-Jones is an ideal winner. She oozes style and grace and her natural beauty just shines through," Contactmusic quoted Charlotte Newbert, of poll organisers Nephria Cosmetics, as saying.

(Agencies via China Daily February 3, 2008)