'Marriage is a lot of work,' says Michael Douglas on 2013 split with Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catriona Aitken - BBC Wales Tue, October 6, 2026 at 11:52 AM UTC

3

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have been married since 2000

Hollywood star Michael Douglas says his marriage to Welsh actor Catherine Zeta-Jones is "in good shape", as he reflects on their nearly 30-year relationship.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Douglas recalled meeting Zeta-Jones, when he was 53 and she was 28, at the 1998 Deauville film festival, and telling her: "I'm going to be the father of your children."

The Oscar-winning couple were married at a star-studded ceremony at the Plaza Hotel in New York in 2000 and share two children, Dylan, now 26, and Carys, 23.

They separated briefly in 2013, but Douglas, star of hit 1980s films such as Wall Street and Fatal Attraction, claimed he "never gave up hope that we would reconcile".

"Marriage is a lot of work, you know," the 82-year-old told the Sunday Times.

"And so, you know, we're good. We're in good shape. It's all I can say."

The couple celebrated their silver wedding anniversary last year, with Chicago star Zeta-Jones, from Mumbles, Swansea, saying she loved Douglas "today as I did then".

Advertisement

Douglas, Zeta-Jones, and their children - picture here in 2015 - spent many years living in Bermuda, before moving to New York state

The 50-something Douglas had something of a reputation when he first met the younger Zeta-Jones, who was just making a name for herself in Hollywood with the film The Mask of Zorro.

After nine months of dating, largely long-distance, Zeta-Jones reportedly told Douglas she was "not interested in dating you if you're dating other people", to which he responded: "Wait here, I have to make five quick calls."

The high-profile romance that followed inevitably captured public attention and press scrutiny.

In 2013, the pair underwent a brief separation, but - unlike many other film star couples, they were back together within a year.

Douglas denied "winning back" his wife, adding: "It was a mutual... You know, we had our problems but I love her dearly and, 25 years, you know."

The veteran actor has regularly travelled to Wales with his wife, now 57, and family, and has previously said he was enamoured with the people and countryside but found the weather "brutal".

His forthcoming memoir, One Helluva Ride - released this week in the UK - divulges behind-the-scenes details of his life, including his childhood, Hollywood career, and relationships.

But, when asked what his wife thought of the book, he admitted "she hasn't read it".

More top stories

-

I only found out I had cancer after my four-year-old kicked me in the testicles

Hidden illegal poker den on industrial estate discovered by police

Murder investigation after body found in van on fire

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”