Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones Separated: 'Stress Took Toll'
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have reportedly separated after 13 years of marriage however neither has actually filed for divorce, sources claim.
The Hollywood couple, who wed in 2000 in a lavish ceremony in New York City, are yet to publicly confirm their separation however People magazine claims they have in fact called time of their marriage.
"They're taking a break," a source told People with another explaining that "stress has taken a toll on their marriage."
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In recent years Douglas, 68, and Zeta-Jones, 43, have faced a series of challenges particularly the actress'' recurring struggles with bipolar II disorder and Douglas' 2010 battle with Cancer. The estranged couple, who share two children, Dylan, 13, and Carys, 10, reportedly separated in May.
"Our sources tell us there were several factors," Peter Castro, deputy editor for People, told ABC News. "It's undeniable that his throat cancer and her bi-polar disorder created a perfect storm of tension and issues that were really hard to overcome."
Critics suspect that Douglas' controversial comments about the cause of his throat cancer may have added strain to the couple's marriage. In a June interview with The Guardian newspaper the "Behind the Candelabra" actor blamed the disease on Human papillomavirus (HPV) which he allegedly contracted during oral sex.
"...Without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV [human papillomavirus], which actually comes about from cunnilingus," Douglas said in the interview.
Zeta-Jones, who did not publicly react to the interview, was reportedly furious over her husband's candid comments.
"He gave very candid interviews about his sexual past that she really bristled at. She was not happy about his comments and that sort of got the ball rolling in terms of the split," Castro said.
In May, around the same time that Douglas and Zeta-Jones decided to part ways, the Academy award-winning actor applauded his wife's openness regarding her battles with bi-polar disorder.
"She was smart to go public, you now," Douglas told ABC. "[It] sort of reminded me of when I had to come out about the cancer. You know, [it] just clears up a lot of rumors."
