This iconic Hollywood couple proves that a relationship need not be perfect, it should be heartfelt.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on August 10, 2022. It has since been updated.
"You know, I'm going to be the father of your children," Michael Douglas had said to Catherine Zeta-Jones during one of their initial meetings. And things never took a U-turn after that.
While they knew they did have something worth exploring with each other, the Welsh actress was not too sure of it initially. But she could never stop thinking about him and gradually their fondness for each-other culminated in the 'wedding of the year' of 2000. Soon they welcomed their two children, now 13-year-old son Dylan and 10-year-old daughter Carys.
But their relationship was soon put to test when Douglas was diagnosed with throat cancer. As the Oscar-winning actor battled for life, his wife patiently remained by his side, supporting him and loving him when he needed her the most.
"The hardest part is seeing his fatigue, because Michael is never tired...If there's anything Michael has, it's strength," Zeta-Jones had said at that time, reports EOnline. Life is never easy, but it was exceptionally hard for this power couple of Hollywood, as they kept facing challenges one after the other but the one thing that they never bore the blow, was their relationship.
The same year, Douglas' firstborn son, Cameron was arrested for possessing heroin. He served 5 years in prison and 2 more years in solitary confinement. After he saw the light of dawn, he credited his stepmom for being supportive and showering him with the kind of love that kept him strong and going.
"She never gives up on anything, and she didn't quit on me," Cameron, who was released in 2016, told the Mail. "The love of my family got me through my darkest days."
In 2011, while Douglas was declared cancer-free, celebrations didn't quite hit the family, as Zeta-Jones checked herself into a mental health facility. "I'm not the kind of person who likes to shout out my personal issues from the rooftops. But with my bipolar becoming public, I hope fellow sufferers will know it's completely controllable," she told InStyle a year later. "I hope I can help remove any stigma attached to it."
In April 2013, Zeta-Jones once again sought professional treatment for her bipolar II disorder. "She's doing a really good job of getting balanced," her husband told People. "I'm proud of her."
All of these years, the couple has managed to make it work, even though some may have expressed their doubts, given the 25 years age gap between the two. They stuck together in love and they stuck together through troubles. But in 2013, the couple that inspired generations decided to part ways silently.
Needless to mention, it broke a million hearts but the people who suffered the most are Jones and Douglas. So much so, that even after they took a brief time apart from each other Douglas never removed his wedding ring. He was spotted wearing in wedding ring in 2013, at the Deauville American Film Festival, two days after he and Catherine Zeta-Jones revealed that they had separated after 13 years of marriage.
While Douglas' reps did reveal that the couple is "taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage," the Ant-Man star knew that nothing could keep them apart. When a couple has seen so much together and been through so many hurdles together, it is only predictable that they can't help but come together to spend the rest of their lives together.
And it happened, as it should have. After taking a few months' time apart from each other to evaluate their relationship and shortcoming, they were back together, stronger than ever. But by year's end, they had privately reconciled. "I'm crazy about her...I think every couple has their difficult times. The only problem is, as you well know, we're all in the public eye and it tends to get a little more exposed than most," he assured Ellen DeGeneres in 2015. "But we're back, stronger than ever."
One can say it with all confidence and conviction that Zeta-Jones and Douglas are truly committed to one another. After all the ups and downs they have been through, leaving would have the easiest option. But they chose to stick and make their marriage work. It's because of couples like them, our belief in marriage still remains strong.
"It's a long road, and I think people today are so quick to throw in the towel on marriage. You have to give it your best shot and not give up when the first problem arises because that won't be the last problem," the happily married Chicago star told Good Housekeeping in 2016. "There will be many more down the road."
"It took work on both our parts," Douglas told AARP that same year. "I don't think there's much chance of fixing a relationship if one of you is already out the door."
References
https://www.instyle.com/news/catherine-zeta-jones-instyles-december-cover-girl
Cover Image Source: Getty Images
