Michael Douglas Details How He and Catherine Zeta-Jones Saved Their Marriage

Michael Douglas shared insights into how he and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones navigated a brief separation in 2013, attributing their marital success to intentional changes and open dialogue.

“We had to change,” Douglas stated in a recent interview with ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, while promoting his memoir, “One Helluva Ride.” He described the period apart as a necessary “time out” where they could communicate as “two human beings.”

Douglas, 82, and Zeta-Jones, 57, who married in 2000, famously decided to take time apart in 2013. Douglas, who had recently been in remission from stage four cancer, and Zeta-Jones, who had sought treatment for bipolar disorder, both acknowledged the immense challenges they faced. Douglas's memoir details that the couple had “just had gone through a period where a number of challenges came at us all at once.”

Despite the difficulties, Douglas emphasized that their love remained strong. “How much I loved her. How much I missed her. How much laughs we had together,” he told Sawyer. He wrote in his memoir that the separation was “incredibly difficult” for both actors, but they prioritized their children, Dylan, 26, and Carys, 23, ensuring they understood the situation was not their fault.

The couple ultimately reconciled by the following year. Douglas noted that their time apart helped reignite their connection. “Taking time away helped reignite the spark that had brought us together,” he wrote, explaining that their interactions during school functions and other child-related activities led them to realize how much they missed each other.

Douglas confirmed that Zeta-Jones is in the process of reading his memoir, which delves into his past relationships and personal experiences. However, Zeta-Jones recently commented on the book, humorously stating that while she loves her husband, she prefers not to read about him when she is tired at night, but recommended the book to others, calling it “One Helluva Ride.”