Michael Douglas Says 'Time-Out' With Catherine Zeta-Jones Was Key to Reconciliation
The actor revealed that a period of separation in their marriage helped him realize his deep appreciation for Zeta-Jones.
Michael Douglas has shared that a temporary separation from his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, was instrumental in their eventual reconciliation. The couple, who married in 2000, experienced a challenging period in the early 2010s that led to a split, a decision Douglas now believes was beneficial.
During an interview on Nightline, Douglas, 82, explained that the time apart allowed him to fully grasp his feelings for Zeta-Jones, 57. "How much I loved her. How much I missed her. How much laughs we had together," he said, reflecting on the lessons learned. He added, "We both had to change. And sometimes I think it’s just good to kind of call time-out and just talk as two human beings."
Douglas's memoir details how he "never gave up hope" of their reunion. He observed that as they interacted more frequently due to their children's activities, they both recognized how much they missed each other. "Taking time away helped reignite the spark that had brought us together," he wrote.
In a separate interview with the Sunday Times, Douglas characterized the separation as mutual, emphasizing that the marriage, now spanning 25 years, requires continuous effort. "It's all I can say," he stated.
The couple's marriage has faced significant challenges, including Douglas's battle with throat cancer in the early 2010s and Zeta-Jones's diagnosis with bipolar II disorder. Douglas noted in his book that during their initial courtship, Zeta-Jones often traveled for her film career, a situation he understood well from his own experiences. They maintained regular phone contact before their first meeting.
Douglas recounted an anecdote from their early relationship where Zeta-Jones, aware of his reputation, made him wait nine months before agreeing to intimacy. To offset this perception, he invited her to his Mallorca holiday home with another stable, long-term couple present, hoping it would make her feel more comfortable. This strategy proved successful, and after they became intimate, Zeta-Jones insisted on monogamy, leading Douglas to end other relationships.
Douglas and Zeta-Jones welcomed their son Dylan in August 2000, followed by their daughter Carys in April 2003. Douglas's first marriage to Diandra Luker, from 1977 to 1995, resulted in a son, Cameron. He described that marriage as tumultuous, marked by frequent separations and infidelity.
