Keeping the fire burning

How Catherine Zeta-Jones held her nerves during Michael Douglas’ prolonged illness

Catherine thinks you shouldn’t give up when the first problem arises in a marriage. PHOTO: FILE

LOS ANGELES:
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Catherine Zeta-Jones has opened up about the rocky moments in her 15-year marriage with Michael Douglas. The Hollywood beauty confessed that it took a lot of time and effort on their part but she is glad that their relationship persevered.

The golden couple has withstood a few rough years together, wherein Douglass was fighting throat cancer and Catherine was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

“It was just the two of us, at one of our favourite restaurants, laughing that we haven’t killed each other yet and are still alive!” shared Zeta-Jones, in an upcoming issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, reported The Daily Mail. “15 years is a long time; you’ve got to keep the home fires burning.”

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It was difficult to cope with Douglas’ being bedridden, “We tried to keep it as private as possible but because of what we do, it’s very hard. I didn’t talk to other people about it enough. That’s the one thing I would do more. Our children asking ‘Is daddy going to die?’ is an experience I am glad is in our rear-view mirror now.”


The 46-year-old also voiced her stance on marriage in general, likening it to a long road. “I think people today are so quick to throw in the towel on their marriage,” she claimed. “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. There will be many, many more down the road,” she added.

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When asked if female actors felt the pressure to stay beautiful, Catherine responded, “You don’t have to be a beauty queen to be an actor. The roles coming my way now are different and more interesting.”

But the Welsh actor – who has previously endorsed cosmetic giants like Elizabeth Arden – is not completely against plastic surgery, as reported by femalefirst.cu.ok. “I have not been under the knife …yet,” she said. “If I feel like it, I am going to go ahead and do it! If surgery makes you feel better, who am I to tell someone it is wrong?”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4th, 2016.

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