How Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have weathered the tests of marriage

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have one of the most surprising, yet long-lasting Hollywood romances. The couple recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, but things haven’t always been smooth for their family.

Before Michael, Catherine dated a few UK and Welsh celebrities, like John Leslie, David Essex and Mick Hucknall. She was also engaged to actor Angus Macfadyen. For his part, Michael used to date his co-star Brenda Vaccaro and was later married to Diandra Luker, the daughter of an Austrian diplomat, for 18 years. The two share a son, Cameron, and their 2000 divorce was one of the most expensive for its time.

Douglas spotted his future wife in ‘The Mask Of Zorro’ and was apparently smitten, arranging a meeting with her when they both attended Deauville Film Festival in 1998. But he almost ruined everything when he told Catherine he would be the father of her children within the first 30 minutes of their acquaintance.

Nevertheless, the couple kept in touch as friends for nine months, before they realised the romance could go the distance. The two share the same birthday – September 25 – with an age gap of 25 years, and Michael proposed on 1999 New Year’s Eve when they were expecting their first child. Thereafter, the couple’s lavish wedding cost $1.5 million, and the two decided to raise their kids in Bermuda around Michael’s relatives. Dylan, now 20, and Carys, now 17, did not know their parents were famous before they moved to NYC.

Michael is also father to 43-year-old Cameron, who recently became a dad for the second time. In 2010, Cameron was arrested for substance possession and jailed for five years. The same year, Michael was diagnosed with tongue cancer, but in 2011 ultimately beat the disease and was declared cancer-free. Meanwhile, Catherine was receiving treatment for her bipolar disorder.

More challenges followed. In 2013, the couple separated for eight months “to work on their marriage” but the bumpy patch appears to have been overcome, with the two now reconciled, and conquering TV, demonstrating a great deal of support for each other. They name friendship, kindness and humour as the things keeping their marriage strong.

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