Michael Douglas recalls how he first met wife Catherine Zeta-Jones

Michael Douglas revised history at France’s Deauville American Film Festival 2024, while receiving a career tribute on Friday, the opening night of the milestone 50th anniversary edition, and reminisced how he first met his now-wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, 26 years ago, at the same event.

Douglas was called on the stage by his Franklin co-star Ludivine Sagnier, and was garnered with a long standing ovation.

The Basic Instinct star recalled the “slight issue of Catherine” and his years-long association with the Deauville Film Festival.

“I had just seen three weeks before I came to the festival this movie ‘Zorro,’ ‘Mon Dieu!,” Douglas said humorously.

“When I arrived supporting our film, I think it was Perfect Murder, I look at the catalogue and I see that ‘Zorro’ is coming the next night, so I ask my assistant, ‘Can you find out if Catherine Zeta-Jones is coming?’ And is she coming alone and if I could have a drink with her.’”

“The rest is history,” he said. However, The Mask of Zorro lead actress didn’t come to the festival along with her husband.

Douglas has attended the festival four times before, the last time he was there was to represent My Life with Liberace, back in 2013.