Michael Douglas reveals wife Catherine Zeta-Jones still hasn’t read his candid memoir

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Michael Douglas has revealed that his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, has yet to read his new memoir 'One Helluva Ride', in which he opened up about their marriage.

 The memoir, which was published on Tuesday, October 6, by Grand Central Publishing, explores his childhood, career, activism, and love life, including his relationship with Zeta-Jones and their brief separation in 2013.

Michael Douglas hadn't shown memoir to anyone before its publication

“She hasn’t read it,” the Oscar winner told The Times when asked whether his wife, whom he married in 2000, was nervous about the memoir’s release.

According to the outlet, Douglas had not shown the book to anyone before its release. The memoir looks back at Douglas’ New York City upbringing as the son of actor Kirk Douglas and actress Diana Dill, as well as his screen career, activism, and relationships with women including Kathleen Turner and Jeanne Tripplehorn. 

It also details his relationship with Zeta-Jones, including a period in 2013 when, after a decade of marriage, the couple faced several challenges and “decided to take some time apart.”

Speaking to The Times, Douglas said their reconciliation was “a mutual” effort. “We’re good. We’re in good shape,” he added. In the memoir, he writes, “I never gave up hope that we would reconcile… Taking time away helped reignite the spark that had brought us together,” the 82-year-old shared.  

The pair shares a son and a daughter, Dylan Douglas and Carys Zeta Douglas, while the 'Wall Street' star also has a son, Cameron Douglas, with his ex-wife Diandra Luker. Douglas and Zeta-Jones share the same birthday, September 25, and recently celebrated each other on social media on their joint birthday.

Michael Douglas recalls meeting Catherine Zeta-Jones

In a PEOPLE cover story about his memoir, Douglas said he is still crazy for Zeta-Jones and discussed what has helped their marriage last. “A good sense of humor doesn’t hurt, number one. And talking things out. Never using the words ‘never’ or ‘always’ when you get angry with each other,” he shared.

Douglas also stressed the importance of putting yourself in the other person’s position before making a judgment and having fun together. He recalled asking Zeta-Jones whether she liked golf when they first met. She replied that she loved it, and he said, “Well, I melted.”

The couple first met at the Deauville Film Festival in 1998 after Douglas became infatuated with Zeta-Jones after seeing an early screening of 'The Mask of Zorro'. While promoting 'A Perfect Murder' at the Deauville American Film Festival, he asked his publicist to arrange drinks with her.

Douglas recalled that Zeta-Jones was “smart, funny, unpretentious, and, yes, breathtakingly beautiful,” adding that she appeared confident and self-assured. During a later dinner with Zeta-Jones, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, Douglas became even more impressed by her poise.

At the end of the evening, Douglas admitted he was “smashed” and recalled telling her, “I’m going to be the father of your children.” He later sent a large bouquet to her hotel in Scotland while she was filming 'Entrapment'.

Douglas slowly courted Zeta-Jones, and they married on November 18, 2000, at New York’s Plaza Hotel, more than two years after they first met.