Reel Life and real life can be antithetical to the extent of no limit. "It's probably her greatest performance ever because she's playing a chef and she can't boil water." said Michael Douglas, 62, about his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, 37. Catherine has been cast as a chef as an unlucky-in-love in new romantic Hollywood comedy movie, No Reservations.

Catherine spent a week in a posh New York restaurant to research her role, but the funniest comment the head chef could muster was that she's a "great garnisher".

The film maker admitted that Zeta-Jones, had not helped her cause by talking about her “odd” eating habits while promoting No Reservations.

But Catherine, who is so bad at cooking in real life she even set a pan on fire when attempting to prepare a meal for her hubby, has one bizarre secret recipe she gets right every time.

Together with a little lemon and salt and pepper, she says it makes the perfect snack.

"This is going to sound so ridiculous and crazy," says Catherine.

"But I obsessed with smoked salmon sandwiches and brown bread with potato chips in the middle, crushed down. I had that for each of my pregnancies, and I actually had it two nights for dinner. It's one of those comfort foods." the actress mother of two sons told reporters at a press conference for her new film.

She says: "Fitness keeps my brain sane and gives me lots of energy. I've been over in Europe and doing a lot of swimming which I adore. So I'm mixing it up a bit.