GWENT will be making a pitch for location scenes Catherine Zeta Jones' new film.>

Hopes are high that Gwent is on the Swansea superstar's list of possible sets for the money-spinning venture.

Gwent, with historic settings like Caerleon, Chepstow Castle and Tredegar House, has a impressive track for being used as a film location.

Ms Zeta Jones' last film was Traffic, in which she starred with husband Michael Douglas and which was a box office smash.

She made the announcement about the Welsh film at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday.

Los Angeles-based Milk-wood Films , a company set up by Swansea-born Cath-erine and her brother Lyndon Jones, is working on the development of Coming Out, said to be a comedy set in a rugby club.

Newport RFC marketing director Simon Lee said: "We would be delighted to show Catherine around our club and find out more about this project but, in terms of filming at Rodney Parade, we would have to look at the implications of all this in terms of affecting training, especially if it was planned for during the season."

A Newport county borough council spokesman said: "We're delighted Catherine Zeta Jones is planning to make a film in Wales and we'd be happy to show her some of the prime locations on offer in Newport. We have St Woolos cathedral, Tredegar House, one of the finest stately homes in Britain, the Roman amphitheatre in Caerleon and the world's only working transporter bridge, the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal, which is being restored and miles of beautiful countryside and parkland."

"Newport also has a rich and diverse history and some of the episodes from the town's past would be perfect material for a film." Meanwhile Welsh film director Sara Sugarman has been signed up to direct.

Ms Zeta-Jones said: "I am thrilled to be part of this project and equally proud to be taking the film back to Wales.

"I think Wales has immense talent, both in front and behind the camera, and I am excited about the prospects of this film, which has a charming script and which will be directed by one of our most interesting directors. "The film will have an international appeal and all at Milkwood Films are as enthusiastic as I am."

The WDA's media and communications director Bet Davies added: "The benefit to the Welsh economy of attracting producers to make their films in Wales is highly significant because film productions can contribute millions of pounds to any local economy.

"There are also many long-term benefits derived from films shot in Wales. It promotes Wales to a world-wide audience."

Milkwood plans to start shooting early next year._____