Michael Douglas Reminisces About Meeting Now-Wife Catherine Zeta-Jones During Career Tribute at Deauville Film Festival

As an ardent cinephile who has traversed the vast expanse of silver screens and celluloid narratives for decades, I find myself deeply moved by the enchanting tale of Michael Douglas’s serendipitous encounter with Catherine Zeta-Jones at Deauville American Film Festival in 1998. The festival, a veritable playground for cinematic connoisseurs, has been the silent observer and catalyst to many such heartwarming narratives, weaving together the intricate tapestry of lives intertwined by their shared passion for film.


Michael Douglas shared memories from when he first met his current spouse, Catherine Zeta-Jones, at France’s Deauville American Film Festival back in 1998. This was during a special career tribute presented to him on the opening night of the festival’s 50th anniversary celebration held last Friday.

Douglas, introduced on stage by his “Franklin” co-star Ludivine Sagnier (known for her role in “Lupin”) and receiving a prolonged applause, subsequently spoke – partly in French – about his extensive relationship with the Deauville Film Festival and more specifically, a minor problem concerning Catherine.

Douglas quipped, “I’d just watched ‘Zorro’ three weeks prior to the festival. When I got here promoting our film, which was ‘Perfect Murder,’ I noticed in the program that ‘Zorro’ was showing the following night. So, I asked my assistant, ‘Can you find out if Catherine Zeta-Jones is attending? Is she coming alone and could we maybe grab a drink together?’ The rest, as they say, is history.

This is his fifth visit to the festival since he last attended in 2013 when he showcased “My Life with Liberace.” He’s being honored for his career achievements, 25 years after his father Kirk, who was similarly recognized at Deauville in 2020 through a posthumous retrospective.

Regarding his long career span, Douglas, who attended the festival alone, enthusiastically declared, “It’s been 55 years! You put in just as much effort on your setbacks as you do on your triumphs. As a writer, you write with a pen or a computer; a painter paints, a musician plays an instrument. But for film, you have a whole team.

In my own words, as a movie critic:

As a movie connoisseur, let me express my heartfelt gratitude to the gifted artists I’ve collaborated with throughout my career – the visionary directors who brought stories to life, the talented actors who challenged and inspired me, the dedicated producers who made it all possible, and the meticulous costume designers who transformed us into our characters. It’s the small roles in great movies that truly matter to me over the grandeur of mediocre films.

Douglas holds a special place in Deauville as one of its five-star Royal Hotel’s most exquisite suites and a beachfront bungalow bear his name. He shares that it’s fortunate to have stayed in a suite adorned with photographs from the films he has acted in throughout his career.

Previously mentioned, Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams, and Sebastian Stan are set to be recognized at our 50th anniversary event. The talented duo, Portman and Williams, will be presented with the Deauville Talent Award for their impressive career accomplishments. Meanwhile, Stan will receive the Hollywood Rising Star Award, highlighting his rising stardom.

2021 sees the debut of Aude Hesbert as the new artistic director for the festival, having recently transferred from Los Angeles where she oversaw the French film and TV residency program Villa Albertine. Additionally, this year’s event has welcomed new sponsors such as Canal+ and introduced a fresh award, the Prix Nouvelle Génération, which was bestowed upon director Malia Ann for her initial short film “The Heart.” This piece was exhibited during the opening night, preceding “Lee Miller,” Ellen Kuras’s biographical movie about the groundbreaking photographer portrayed by Kate Winslet.

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2024-09-06 23:46