Michael Douglas says he fell in love with Catherine Zeta-Jones on screen first
Synopsis
On their shared birthday, Michael Douglas posted an Instagram tribute to Catherine Zeta-Jones drawing from his memoir ‘One Helluva Ride’ — confessing she was the first woman he ever fell in love with while watching on a movie screen. “She was magic, in a way that went beyond beauty,” he wrote, in a rare public glimpse into one of Hollywood’s most enduring marriages.
Key Takeaways
Michael Douglas shared a birthday tribute to Catherine Zeta-Jones on 25 September , their shared birthday, via Instagram.
Douglas quoted his memoir ‘One Helluva Ride’ , saying Zeta-Jones was ‘the first woman he fell in love with on a movie screen.’ Zeta-Jones replied in the comments: “Thank you darling.
Happy Birthday to you too, my love.” The couple met at the Deauville American Film Festival in August 1998 , introduced by Danny DeVito , and married at the Plaza Hotel, New York City on 18 November 2000 .
They share two children, Dylan , 24, and Carys , 21, and have been married for over 25 years .
Hollywood veteran Michael Douglas has shared a deeply personal tribute to his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones on their joint birthday, revealing that she was the first woman he ever fell in love with while watching on a movie screen. The actor, who turned 82 on 25 September 2026, posted the message on Instagram alongside a photograph of the couple.
What Michael Douglas Said
In a lengthy caption accompanying the post, Douglas drew from his memoir, 'One Helluva Ride', to articulate the moment he first encountered Zeta-Jones on screen. “I had never fallen in love on a movie screen before. Until I saw Catherine. She was magic, in a way that went beyond beauty,” he wrote.
He continued: “And I was certain, as much as I had ever been about anything, that she was the one. It’s the kind of moment that only comes around once in your life, if you’re lucky. The one time that you know, without any doubt in your mind, that you’re meant to be with someone. Happy Birthday Catherine! I love you always and forever.”
Catherine’s Response
Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, who also shares 25 September as her birthday, responded warmly in the comments section. “Thank you darling. Thank you. Happy Birthday to you too, my love,” she wrote.
Their Love Story: How It All Began
The couple’s relationship traces back to August 1998, when they were introduced by actor Danny DeVito at the Deauville American Film Festival in France. They became engaged on 31 December 1999 and married at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on 18 November 2000, following the finalisation of Douglas’s earlier divorce. The wedding ceremony reportedly cost an estimated $2 million.
The couple share two children: son Dylan, 24, and daughter Carys, 21.
Douglas’s Earlier Marriage
Before Zeta-Jones, Douglas was married to Diandra Luker, the daughter of an Austrian diplomat and twelve years his junior. The couple had one son, Cameron, born in 1978. In 1995, Diandra filed for divorce and was awarded $45 million as part of the settlement.
The birthday post offers a rare and candid glimpse into a Hollywood union that has endured for over two decades, with Douglas’s memoir excerpt adding a literary dimension to what is often the subject of tabloid curiosity.
Point of View
As tabloids have periodically speculated, the most successfully managed celebrity brand in contemporary Hollywood — and probably both.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Michael Douglas say about Catherine Zeta-Jones on their birthday?
Michael Douglas posted an Instagram tribute on their shared birthday, 25 September , quoting his memoir ‘One Helluva Ride’ and saying Zeta-Jones was the first woman he ever fell in love with while watching on a movie screen, calling her ‘magic, in a way that went beyond beauty.’
When and where did Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones get married?
The couple married on 18 November 2000 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City , in a ceremony reportedly costing an estimated $2 million . They had become engaged on 31 December 1999 .
How did Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones meet?
They were introduced by actor Danny DeVito at the Deauville American Film Festival in France in August 1998 . The meeting led to a relationship and eventual engagement just over a year later.
What is Michael Douglas’s memoir about?
Douglas’s memoir, titled ‘One Helluva Ride’ , appears to chronicle key personal moments from his life, including his relationship with Zeta-Jones. The birthday post quoted an excerpt in which he describes first seeing her on screen and feeling certain she was the one.
Do Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have children together?
Yes, the couple have two children: son Dylan , aged 24 , and daughter Carys , aged 21 . Douglas also has a son, Cameron , born in 1978 , from his first marriage to Diandra Luker .
