Zeta-Jones, Shania, Christina: Stars Starting Over

June 14, 2011— -- At Monday's Tony Awards, Catherine Zeta-Jones showed no sign of the troubles that had plagued her this past year.

The Oscar-winning actress looked radiant in a red Elie Saab gown as she presented two awards to Broadway's best at New York's Beacon Theatre. It was one of her first public appearances since seeking treatment for bipolar disorder earlier this year.

Soon after husband Michael Douglas announced that his throat cancer was in remission, Zeta-Jones' publicist revealed in April that the actress was bipolar and had sought treatment for the illness.

"After dealing with the stress of the past year, Catherine made the decision to check in to a mental health facility for a brief stay to treat her bipolar II disorder," her publicist said in a statement. "She's feeling great and looking forward to starting work this week on her two upcoming films."

The actress seemed to be looking ahead to a new start when she strongly hinted during the Tonys that she'd like to return to the stage.

"I got my big break tap dancing in '42nd Street' in London," the 41-year-old Wales native told the audience. "That's where it all started, and I would love to do a show in London again, but no one has asked me."

Last year Zeta-Jones won a Tony for her role in the revival of "A Little Night Music."

Zeta-Jones is not the only female star ready for a new act. Christina Aguilera, Shania Twain and Christie Brinkley, who also attended the Tonys, are also starting over following painful divorces.

"All these women have been through devastating things," US Weekly senior editor Ian Drew said. "It just proves, you can start over."

Like Zeta-Jones, Brinkley has gotten her groove back on Broadway. The supermodel-turned actress went through a contentious divorce from Peter Cook in 2008, with plenty of name calling and a protracted custody battle over their children, Jack and Sailor.

Brinkley alleged that her husband of nearly 10 years was a sex addict, while Cook maintained that behind Brinkley's beautiful smile was a woman simmering with anger.

The 57-year-old model appears to be all smiles these days since taking the role as the jailed killer Roxie Hart in the Broadway musical "Chicago." Her 11-week engagement ends this week. But it looks as if it was the boost Brinkley needed.

Aguilera's runaway hit show, "The Voice," is the fresh start she needed to move past her painful divorce, which became official in April.

"It really saved her," Drew said. "Not only is it a massive hit, but it put the focus back on her artistry and ability as a vocalist."

Before then, Aguilera's life had become fodder for the tabloids. The 30-year-old singer split from music executive husband Jordan Bratman, who's the father of their 3-year-old son, Max, last October.

Aguilera's newly single life has had its share of bumps. In February, she botched a line while performing the national anthem at this year's Super Bowl. Later, at the Grammy Awards, she took a spill onstage.

Then, in March, Aguilera was arrested on charges of pubic intoxication, and her boyfriend Matt Rutler was booked on a DUI charge. Charges against Rutler were later dropped.

Aguilera credits the 25-year-old production assistant whom she met on the set of her first feature film," Burlesque," and who now lives with her, with getting her through a troubled year.

"People I've known for 10 years see us together and they've told me, 'I just can't believe the person who's in front of me, because I've never seen you so light, never seen you so happy,'" she told US Weekly recently.