Michael Douglas details separation from Catherine Zeta-Jones in new interview: ‘Marriage is hard work’

Michael Douglas has offered some rare insight into his 26-year marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones in a new interview.

Speaking to The Sunday Times to promote his new memoir, One Helluva Ride, the 82-year-old was pressed on his brief 2013 split from Zeta-Jones.

When asked by the publication how he ‘won back’ his wife after their separation, a terse Douglas replied, ‘What, I won her back? It was a mutual.’

He continued, ‘You know, we had our problems but I love her dearly and, 25 years, you know.

‘I mean, I don’t know about your marital status, but marriage is a lot of work, you know. And so, you know, we’re good. We’re in good shape. It’s all I can say.’

The couple, who met in 1998 and got married in 2000, went through a temporary separation in 2013 after a series of personal health woes. 

Michael Douglas has opened up about his brief 2013 split from wife Catherine Zeta Jones

‘You know, we had our problems but I love her dearly,’ he revealed as he reflected on the split

In 2011, Zeta-Jones revealed that she was battling depression and had been diagnosed with bipolar II disorder, which she sought treatment for in a mental health facility that year.

Douglas was also battling cancer after receiving a diagnosis in 2010.

Zeta-Jones then returned to a mental health facility in 2013 to continue treatment for bipolar. 

Around the same time, Douglas claimed in a controversial 2013 interview with The Guardian that the type of cancer he had can be caused by oral sex.

‘This particular cancer is caused by HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus,’ he told the publication. 

He later walked back the comments and publicly apologized in a 2015 interview with Event magazine. 

‘It was one of those things … and I so regretted any embarrassment that it caused Catherine,’ he said.

Douglas also addressed their brief split, saying, ‘We had a little bump in the road.’

Zeta-Jones entered a mental health facility in 2013 for treatment amid her ongoing battle with depression and bipolar disorder; pictured in January, 2013

The couple share two children Dylan, 26, and Carys, 23; all pictured together in 2025

He continued, ‘The problem in this business is that everything is so public. I love Catherine as much, more than I ever have. And hopefully the feeling’s mutual.

‘We worked things out – if both people want to work something out and make it better, you can do it. You can’t do it if it’s just one person.’

The couple share two children Dylan, 26, and daughter Carys, 23.

Speaking to The Sunday Times in September, Zeta-Jones said that the secret to her marriage with Douglas was ‘working’. 

‘Michael is, like, “Do that job, that’s amazing.” Then he’s able to fly in and see me,’ she explained.

‘Much better than waking up, going, “What do you want for breakfast, honey?” I don’t think our marriage would ever have lasted if it was like that.’ 

Douglas previously apologized for ’embarrassing’ Zeta-Jones after he gave a 2013 interview about how cancer can be caused from HPV contracted via oral sex

Douglas stepped back from acting in 2022 after a nearly 60-year career and has said he will only return to the screen for something ‘special’.

Zeta-Jones though has consistently worked throughout their marriage and in recent years has had huge success with her role as Morticia in the Netflix hit Wednesday.

She is currently starring in the spy thriller Kill Jackie on Amazon Prime Video. 

Douglas was last seen in AppleTV+’s miniseries Franklin, about the United States Founding Father Benjamin Franklin.

He is now promoting his memoir, One Helluva Ride, which drops on Tuesday.  

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