Michael Douglas Says 2013 Separation Was Mutual

Michael Douglas says his 2013 separation from Catherine Zeta-Jones was mutual, rejecting the suggestion that he had to win her back. The couple reconciled after taking time apart, and Douglas says they are now in good shape, according to his recent interview and memoir. Asked about the reconciliation, Douglas challenged the premise of the question, saying it was mutual. He added that the couple had problems, that he loves Zeta-Jones dearly and that marriage takes work. In his memoir, One Helluva Ride, he writes that he never gave up hope they would reconcile. Zeta-Jones said in a statement in 2013 that the couple were taking time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage. Reports say they later reunited, but do not establish precisely how long they were separated: descriptions range from a few months to several months. The couple married in 2000, and the separation came after 13 years of marriage. The split occurred amid personal and health-related difficulties. Douglas had been diagnosed with cancer in 2010. In 2013, he made public comments linking his cancer to HPV contracted through oral sex; he later said he regretted the embarrassment his remarks caused Zeta-Jones.