Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have been married for over twenty years. The Hollywood stars have also experienced difficult phases in their relationship. The actor now explains why a temporary separation once saved their marriage.
Michael Douglas, 79, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, 54, celebrated their dream wedding in November 2000. Due to the large age difference, many critics were sure that the relationship would not last long. 24 years and two children together – Dylan, 23, and Carys, 21 – later, the Hollywood stars are still happy together. However, that does not mean that they have not been through challenging times. In 2013, the two took a break from their relationship for a few months. The “The Game” actor is now talking about this temporary separation from his wife and emphasizes how much his marriage benefited from it.
Michael Douglas on relationship break: “We realized that we love each other”
In 2010, Michael Douglas was diagnosed with throat cancer. When he was diagnosed, the actor told the British newspaper “The Guardian” that the cause of the tumor was oral sex. He later denied this statement. Catherine Zeta-Jones also had to deal with all of this. “Of course, every relationship has its ups and downs, and we were separated for a while. But we both realized that we love each other and that it’s worth working on making our relationship work,” Michael Douglas said in an interview with “Bunte” about the difficult phase of his life.
The separation made the couple realize what problems were prevalent in their relationship. “We didn’t split up because one of us fell in love with someone else, but because we needed to find a way to enjoy our love and our life together,” says the “Ant-Man” star, adding: “I am proud of our relationship.”
“Love for my partner and family ties are particularly important to me”
The 79-year-old further emphasizes that there are different types of love. “My love for family and my appreciation for it have definitely grown over time. My life used to be so hectic and demanding that I probably didn’t give as much time or attention to my family as I do now. But I recognize the benefits of it. Love for my partner and family ties are particularly important to me and form an essential part of the family structure.”
Sources used: theguardian.com, Bunte