Michael Douglas has opened up about the 2013 separation that briefly strained his marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones, admitting that 'marriage is a lot of work' and saying he 'never gave up hope' they would reconcile.
The 82-year-old Hollywood star reflected on the couple's relationship as he promotes his new memoir, One Helluva Ride, and rejected the suggestion that he simply had to 'win back' his wife after their split. Instead, Douglas insisted their reunion was mutual, saying they had experienced problems but that he loved Zeta-Jones dearly.
Douglas Opens up About Their 2013 Split
Douglas and Zeta-Jones separated in August 2013 after 13 years of marriage, with Zeta-Jones confirming at the time that they were taking time apart to work on their relationship. The separation lasted several months before the pair reconciled later that year.
More than a decade on, Douglas has offered a candid reflection on that difficult period in his memoir.
'I never gave up hope that we would reconcile,' he writes.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Douglas was also asked how he had 'won her back' following their separation. The actor immediately pushed back on that description, making clear that he did not view the reconciliation as something he achieved alone.
'What, I won her back? It was mutual,' he said.
Douglas went on to acknowledge the reality of keeping a marriage together for decades.
'We had our problems, but I love her dearly,' he said. 'I mean, I don't know about your marital status, but marriage is a lot of work, you know.'
He added: 'We're good. We're in good shape. It's all I can say.'
His comments offer a notably different picture from the idea of a dramatic Hollywood reconciliation, instead presenting their reunion as something both partners chose to work towards.
From Separation to a 25-Year Marriage
Douglas and Zeta-Jones first met in France in 1998, when Douglas was 53, and Zeta-Jones was 28. He was already an established Hollywood star, while the Welsh actress was making her mark internationally, including with The Mask of Zorro.
Their romance developed after that meeting, despite the 25-year age gap and the intense public interest surrounding their relationship.
Douglas famously told Zeta-Jones when they met: 'I'm going to be the father of your children.'
The couple married at New York's Plaza Hotel on 18 November 2000 and went on to welcome two children, Dylan and Carys. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in November 2025, with Zeta-Jones paying tribute to her husband by writing: 'I love you today as I did then.'
Their marriage has lasted more than 25 years, despite the difficult chapter they faced in 2013.
Catherine Zeta-Jones Has Also Reflected on Their Marriage
The couple's longevity has often attracted attention, particularly given the age difference between them and the fact that their relationship has endured intense media scrutiny.
Ahead of their 25th anniversary, Zeta-Jones acknowledged that some people had believed their marriage would not last. Yet the pair reached the milestone together and continued to present a united front.
Douglas has also regularly spoken affectionately about Wales, travelling there with his wife and family and embracing Zeta-Jones' connection to her home country. Their early courtship was unconventional, too. According to Douglas, Zeta-Jones eventually made it clear that she was not interested in dating him if he continued seeing other women.
His response became one of the more memorable anecdotes from the beginning of their relationship: 'Wait here, I have to make five quick calls.'
His New Memoir Reveals More About His Life
Douglas' latest comments come as One Helluva Ride is released in the UK. The memoir looks back at his decades-long Hollywood career as well as the personal experiences that shaped him. The book was released on 6 October 2026.
It also contains revelations about Douglas' earlier relationships and his first marriage to Diandra Luker, making his decision to discuss his long-term relationship with Zeta-Jones particularly timely.
Interestingly, Douglas revealed that his wife has not yet read the memoir.
When asked what Zeta-Jones thought of the book, he simply said: 'She hasn't read it.'
For Douglas, however, the most significant part of the story appears to be what happened after the difficult period in 2013. Rather than describing their reconciliation as one person winning back the other, he portrays it as a mutual decision to continue their relationship.
And after more than 25 years of marriage, his message is remarkably straightforward: relationships require effort, but he and Zeta-Jones have come through their hardest chapter together.
'Marriage is a lot of work,' Douglas said.
But his other admission may say even more about why their marriage survived: 'I never gave up hope that we would reconcile.'
