Catherine says critics doubted marriage to Michael as couple near 25th anniversary

Catherine Zeta-Jones has opened up about her 25-year marriage to Michael Douglas, admitting that many people didn’t believe their relationship would stand the test of time.

The Welsh-born actress, 55, and the Hollywood legend, 80, married in a lavish ceremony at New York’s iconic Plaza Hotel in 2000. With a 25-year age gap, their union was met with scepticism, but the couple, parents to Dylan, 25, and Carys, 22, have defied the odds.

Speaking to The Sun, Zeta-Jones reflected on the milestone, describing her marriage as “a journey of learning and loving and fun.” She added, “We’ve been married 25 years, it’s something to celebrate. And they said it would never last!”

The Oscar winner revealed that the couple won’t be marking the anniversary on the exact date, as she will be filming season three of Netflix’s Wednesday, in which she plays Morticia Addams. Instead, they plan to host a celebration over the holidays. “I’ve been working a lot this year and he’s been so supportive,” she said. “We’ll have a party when I have some time off.”

Zeta-Jones also reflected on the ups and downs of their relationship. In 2013, the couple briefly separated amid Douglas’s battle with tongue cancer and her own bipolar disorder diagnosis, reconciling the following year. “It’s impossible for there not to be ups and downs if you live with the same person every day,” she said in a past interview. “But we’re very good with one another, we respect each other, and I never really feel that he’s 25 years older than me. That’s just maths.”

Despite their combined £250 million ($360 million) fortune, the couple has kept family life surprisingly grounded. Zeta-Jones revealed that they have taken their children on UK staycations to Butlin’s, Legoland, and the Isle of Man, as well as more exotic destinations such as India, Patagonia, and Cambodia. She insists Dylan and Carys spend two weeks each year in her native Wales with her parents.

Motherhood, she said, remains one of her greatest joys: “Having children is one of the most amazing joys of my life. It changes your whole perspective on the world.”

As she looks ahead to celebrating a quarter-century with Douglas, Zeta-Jones remains proud of their enduring bond: “The prospect of reaching a 25-year anniversary is really quite thrilling. I remember my mum and dad celebrating theirs — and now it’s our turn.”