2:04pm UK, Thursday July 22, 2004

A celebrity cat fight appears to have livened things up on the Italian set of Ocean's 12.

Hollywood insiders say co-stars Catherine Zeta Jones and Julia Roberts almost came to blows during filming of the crime caper.

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The stars of Ocean's 12

The Daily Star quoted industry sources as saying the pair fell out over costumes, lighting and VIP perks.

Roberts, who worked on Ocean's 11 with Brad Pitt and George Clooney, is believed to have erupted in a jealous rage. 

"Things really started to hot up when Julia compared her costume with Catherine's," said one insider. 

"Julia was supposed to be seven months pregnant in the film, but when she saw Catherine's glamorous outfits she demanded the whole scenario be changed." 

Sources told the paper the production threatened to go way over budget as bosses went out of their way to humour their leading ladies. 

At one stage, it seems, mansions had to be hired for the cast while scenes were shot in Chicago. 

Roberts is reported to have made a point of having one to herself - behaviour that was seen as distinctly "diva-ish".