Jubilant Catherine Zeta Jones thanks Michael Douglas after Tony awards triumph

Catherine Zeta Jones thanked her film star husband - who she gets to "sleep with every night" - when she picked up a gong at the Tony Awards.

The 40-year-old Hollywood star won best lead actress in a musical just days after being made a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

The screen siren was among a crop of British winners, including playwright Alan Ayckbourn, theatre director and producer Michael Grandage and actor Douglas Hodge.

"See that man there?," the star said, while pointing to Michael Douglas. "He's a movie star and I get to sleep with him every night!"

Dressed in a light blue off-the-shoulder gown, the hoarse actress told the audience: "My family are very important to me. My parents came all the way from Wales. I'd like to thank them for making me the person I am today - I do forgive you."

Jones won her first ever Tony for her role as an amorous actress in the revival of A Little Night Music, which also stars Angela Lansbury and is directed by Sir Trevor Nunn.

US stars Scarlett Johansson and Denzel Washington also won awards - Johansson for best featured performance by an actress in a play for her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller's A View From A Bridge.

The actress, who plays the object of her uncle's lust in the production, said: "Every since I was a little girl I wanted to be on Broadway and here I am."

Washington won best actor in a play for his performance in Fences, the revival of August Wilson's deeply personal drama about family.

Fences also won best revival of a play and Washington's co-star Viola Davis won best actress in a play.

Playwright Ayckbourn received a lifetime achievement award at the American Theatre Wing's event, in New York's Radio City Music Hall.

Hodge was named best lead actor in a musical for his role in La Cage Aux Folles, which won the best revival of a musical award and best direction of a musical gong for British dramatist and director Terry Johnson.

Red, the anguished two-man drama about painter Mark Rothko, played by British actor Alfred Molina, was a big winner, receiving the best play prize and five other honours.

The play picked up Tonys for Grandage, who won best director of a play, and English actor Eddie Redmayne, for featured performance by an actor in a play.

Redmayne portrayed the young, increasingly disillusioned assistant to Rothko, the abstract expressionist who agonises over whether to accept a lucrative commission for the Four Seasons restaurant.

"This is the stuff dreams are made of. Wow," Redmayne said, clutching his prize.

Red was also awarded a Tony for best lighting design of a play, best sound design and best scenic design.

Bon Jovi keyboardist and founding member David Bryan missed a Bon Jovi show for the first time in almost 30 years - the band are playing at the O2 in London - to attend the Tonys, after Memphis, the musical he has worked on, was nominated for eight awards.

Memphis won best musical, best book of a musical and best original score (music and/or lyrics) written for the theatre.