Michael Douglas insists split from Catherine Zeta-Jones ‘was mutual’ and says after 13 years together ‘we had our problems, marriage is hard work’

Michael Douglas has spoken out on his brief separation from Catherine Zeta-Jones 13 years into their marriage, insisting it was a mutual decision to split.

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. 

At the time the Welsh actress confirmed that the couple were ‘taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage’.

13 years on Douglas, who is 25 years Zeta-Jones’ senior, has rejected the idea that he had to ‘win her back’.   

Speaking to The Sunday Times to promote his new memoir, One Helluva Ride, the 82-year-old was asked 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. 

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.’

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 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.