CATHERINE ZETA JONES has phobia of DINOSAURS and plans escape routes ''in case a velociraptor wakes up''
Catherine Zeta Jones has been left with a bizarre phobia of DINOSAURS after watching Jurassic Park as a child.
Catherine Zeta Jones, 45, first watched the prehistoric film when she was a kid and has been constantly on the look out for velociraptors - a type of meat-eating dino featured in the movie - ever since.
The mother-of-two always plans her escape in case of a potential attack when she is out and about and refuses to leave the house alone at night.
The actor said: “My fear started from the first ever time I watched the film.
“In particular I’m seriously afraid of velociraptors and the scenes with them freaked me out so much as a kid it sparked a life long fear.
“I know it’s ridiculous because dinosaurs don’t exist now, but I’ve tried so hard to get over it and I can’t just turn it off.”
Catherine Zeta claims her heartbeat increases and her breathing becomes erratic at the thought of dinosaurs.
She said: “In the day time I literally run to my car to strap in the kids, constantly looking up and down the lane and around to check, then I quickly jump in and slam the door after me.
“When I’m out I’m constantly planning an escape route and hiding place just in case a velociraptor rocks up.
“I am so scared of dinosaurs that I can’t go out alone in the dark.”
“My son and husband were watching a film in the living room the other day and I could feel my heart beating and my hands sweating. I realised it was Jurassic Park and I had to ask them to switch it off.
“I’m dreading the new film (Jurassic World) coming out because it’s set in a city. I’ll be constantly worrying about dinosaurs running around.”
Although Catherine Zeta is not scared of dinosaur characters on the television, for example Barney, she does struggle to play with her son’s dinosaur toys.
She also recently went to a dinosaur trail at Paradise Park, but was so scared of the lifelike moving structures that she cried.
Catherine Zeta said: “My friends and family think my dinosaur phobia is hilarious. No-one takes it seriously and it does make me feel really silly.
“It literally rules my life. I often wake up in the middle of the night sweating because I’ve had a nightmare about being chased by a velociraptor and having to rescue my friends and family.
“It usually ends with us all hiding out in the loft.”