AS she plans a huge celebration to mark her 25th wedding anniversary with Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones is also laughing at the cynics who said their marriage was doomed.
The acting couple seemed an unlikely match at the start.
6
6
Welsh beauty Catherine was 28 and about to secure A-list status starring in 1998 movie The Mask Of Zorro with Antonio Banderas, after finding fame in the UK with wholesome ITV show The Darling Buds Of May.
Meanwhile, Basic Instinct star and ladies’ man Michael, then 53, had separated from first wife Diandra Luker, who he eventually divorced in 2000, and had done a stint in rehab for booze and drug issues in 1992.
But Catherine, now 55, recalled: “We’ve been married 25 years, it’s something to celebrate. And they said it would never last!
“It’s a journey of learning and loving and fun, and the prospect of reaching a 25-year anniversary is really quite thrilling. I remember my mum and dad celebrating theirs.”
The anniversary of their lavish wedding ceremony at the five-star Plaza Hotel in New York is in November, but Catherine will be too busy to celebrate on the actual date.
She is now starring as Morticia Addams in the second series of Wednesday, which was released on Netflix this week, and will be filming season three on their big day.
But Michael, now 80, doesn’t mind waiting a few weeks for a party.
Catherine said: “I’ve been working a lot this year and he’s been so supportive. I think we’re going to be doing a party around the holidays because I’ll be shooting season three. It’s such a short period of time I have off.
‘Difficult times’
“September 25 is both our birthdays. So from September 25 through to Christmas is a pretty busy time.”
During the past quarter century, cynics have at times believed their predictions the couple wouldn’t last.
The stars themselves have been candid about the struggles they faced.
In 2010, Michael announced he was undergoing intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy to treat stage 4 throat cancer, which he said was caused by the HPV virus.
The year after, Catherine revealed she had been diagnosed with bipolar II, struggling with the stress of her husband’s illness.
Then, in 2013, they announced that they had separated, but reconciled months later, with Michael saying: “I think every couple has their difficult times. We’re back, stronger than ever.”
Surviving the tough spells has made them even more determined to celebrate with their children Dylan, 25, and Carys, 22, together with Michael’s son Cameron, 46, from his first marriage.
The Hollywood pair have amazing careers behind them, with Michael having been in Romancing The Stone and Wall Street, and Catherine in Chicago and Entrapment.
But Catherine, now 55, recalled: “We’ve been married 25 years, it’s something to celebrate. And they said it would never last!
Catherine Zeta-Jones
But she says their greatest achievement is simply being parents.
They raised Dylan and Carys out of the spotlight in Bermuda, where Michael’s mother, Diana, was born. In 2009, they returned to New York.
Showing off her moves
Catherine said: “Our children are truly wonderful. It’s that fine balance of not putting them in a gilded cage of protection, of allowing them to make mistakes, of guiding them.”
Wednesday, which launched in 2022, also stars Jenna Ortega in the title role and Luis Guzman as Morticia’s husband Gomez.
It became a huge hit for the streamer and won four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Catherine admits that she relates to the Addams family, saying: “It’s a family who have issues, and we all relate to that. But we embrace our issues.
6
6
“We don’t shun or hide them or try to put them in a box.”
Morticia and Wednesday have a strained relationship in the show, but Catherine says that she and real-life daughter Carys share a close bond.
The actress reveals Morticia’s parenting style involves “nurturing and then having discipline”. Carys has experienced a small dose of her parenting style.
Catherine said: “I did give her side-eye the other day. I rolled my eyes, and she went, ‘Don’t Morticia me, Mom’. I thought it was a wonderful new line that kids can say to their mothers, ‘Don’t Morticia me’.”
In addition to her happy off-screen marriage, Catherine said she is lucky to have a great on-screen hubby in Luis.
She added of the Puerto Rican actor: “We don’t rehearse our chemistry, it just seems to really show up. We did this movie called Traffic 25 years ago and had a great friendship.
6
6
“We enjoy each other’s company and respect each other as artists.”
Catherine, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Velma Kelly in 2002 film Chicago, as well as a Tony award for A Little Night Music on Broadway in 2009, said the new series sees her showing off her moves again.
‘Secret weapon’
She said: “I’m a dancer and Luis moves very well. He worked so hard to get those moves.”
Catherine revealed that one scene with Jenna in Wednesday sees her dust off another old skill — the sword-fighting she mastered for The Mask Of Zorro.
She revealed: “Jenna and I had so much fun. I did sword-fighting in Zorro, so, excuse the pun, it was my secret weapon.”
The new Wednesday features a host of stars, including Brits Billie Piper, Joanna Lumley and Thandiwe Newton, plus US actors Steve Buscemi and Haley Joel Osment.
It’s a journey of learning and loving and fun, and the prospect of reaching a 25-year anniversary is really quite thrilling. I remember my mum and dad celebrating theirs
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Even Lady Gaga is making an appearance. She was invited on to the series after clips of Wednesday dancing went viral when fans set them to Gaga’s track Bloody Mary.
The megastar singer flew to Ireland to film scenes and Catherine says she was a joy to work with.
She explained: “To have a woman of that calibre within our environment, it’s so incredibly amazing.
“When I met her, she was humble, gracious, creative, collaborative and a woman who is just, you know, it exudes from her — greatness. She doesn’t know it.
“She’s a wonderful artist. And I get to say now, ‘I met Lady Gaga’.”
Not to mention Gaga can say she met Catherine Zeta-Jones . . .