Catherine Zeta-Jones revealed that maintaining separate lives and spending time apart through work has sustained her nearly 26-year marriage to Michael Douglas, according to an interview with the Sunday Times Culture magazine. The 56-year-old Oscar-winning actress and the 81-year-old film star married in November 2000 after initially crossing paths in 1999.
Why Time Apart Sustains the Hollywood Marriage
According to Catherine Zeta-Jones, their enduring relationship relies on career independence rather than constant togetherness. Speaking to the Sunday Times Culture magazine, she explained that Douglas often flies out to join her on location for long weekends while she is filming.
“This is much better than waking up next to each other every morning and asking: what would you like for breakfast, darling? I don’t think our marriage would have lasted this long if we lived like that all the time,” Zeta-Jones said, according to the Sunday Times Culture magazine. She noted that physical distance prevents them from growing tired of one another.
Overcoming Past Health and Media Pressures
The couple faced significant personal and medical hurdles over the decades, including Michael Douglas battling a serious cancer diagnosis and Catherine Zeta-Jones speaking openly about mental health struggles that led to clinic treatment. During one difficult period, the pair briefly lived apart before successfully reconciling.
To escape relentless paparazzi attention, the family relocated to Bermuda after the birth of their children—Dylan, now 26, and Carys, now 23. Zeta-Jones described the move as one of the best decisions they ever made for a quieter household environment.
Active Careers and Future Projects
Despite reaching retirement age and amassing substantial wealth, neither actor has stepped away from the screen. Zeta-Jones recently gained recognition playing Morticia Addams in the series Wednesday, appeared in National Treasure: Edge of History, and stars in the upcoming production Kill Jackie.
Meanwhile, Michael Douglas reprised his role as Hank Pym in the Marvel film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and portrayed Benjamin Franklin in the historical drama series Franklin. The couple’s 25-year age gap initially drew skepticism from observers regarding the longevity of their relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long have Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas been married?
The couple married in November 2000, marking nearly 26 years of marriage.
What is the secret to their long marriage?
According to Catherine Zeta-Jones in the Sunday Times Culture magazine, maintaining independent careers and spending scheduled time apart prevents them from growing tired of each other.
Where did the couple live to escape the paparazzi?
According to the actress, they moved to Bermuda after their children were born to escape intense media scrutiny.
Did you know? Despite initial skepticism surrounding their 25-year age gap, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have remained married for over two and a half decades by balancing their respective Hollywood careers with private family life in locations like Bermuda.
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