Catherine Zeta-Jones lost her youthful glow?

It seems like just yesterday that she burst on to the celebrity scene in the Darling Buds Of May.

But Catherine Zeta-Jones's complexion is telling a different story.

The usually ravishing Welsh actress, 39, could not hide the ravages of time and sun exposure as she attended a UN Gala event in New York.

Where is the Mask of Zorro when you need it? Catherine Zeta-Jones at a gala event in New York last night

Bad day: The actress has come a long way since she came to fame in 1991s Darling Buds of May, left, but her complexion has suffered

The red blotches, enlarged pores and spots on her chin could be clearly seen, even with a heavy application of make-up.

Harley Street cosmetic surgeon Apostolis Gaitanis said Miss Zeta-Jones appeared to have taken a little too much sun. She spends most of her time at home in Bermuda with husband Michael Douglas.

'Her skin is in serious need of hydration after so much damage,' he said.

What a star: Catherine Zeta Jones, seen in The Darling Buds of May, is a natural beauty

To regain her previous complexion she will need to have a chemical peel to bring out the undamaged skin underneath.'

The mother of two did not impress with her choice of outfit or hairstyle either - she covered her enviable curves with an unflattering shapeless dress and bundled her locks into a chignon.

Miss Zeta-Jones's appearance was in marked contrast with last month when she upstaged France's first lady Carla Bruni at a New York fundraiser wearing a plunging purple gown.

Not ready for her close up: Even husband Michael Douglas looked perplexed by Catherine's appearance

Fashion misstep: Catherine kept her curves hidden under a shapeless frock