Catherine Zeta-Jones Has a Hilarious Reason for Not Reading Michael Douglas’ Tell-All Memoir

Michael Douglas’ new memoir has been making headlines all week. Released on October 6, ‘One Helluva Ride’ takes readers through the 82-year-old actor’s life and career, from growing up as the son of Kirk Douglas to his many romances, struggles, and triumphs in Hollywood.

The book has already produced plenty of revelations. In one excerpt published by People, Douglas confirmed for the first time that he had a romance with Kathleen Turner that began in 1984 while they were filming ‘Romancing the Stone’ in Mexico.

With so many candid stories hitting the headlines, fans have been wondering how his wife feels about it all. Now Catherine Zeta-Jones has given her answer, revealing she has no plans to read the memoir at all.

Zeta-Jones addressed the book during an appearance on Today on October 8, where she was promoting her new project ‘Kill Jackie’. Host Willie Geist mentioned that he had interviewed Douglas the day before and asked whether it was true she hadn’t read the book.

“It’s true,” she confirmed, adding that “as much as I love my husband, when I’m tired at night I have no intention of reading about him. At all. But everyone else should,” she told Today. The actress also encouraged readers to pick up a copy, joking that they should hold onto their cowboy hats because the book truly is a wild ride.

Zeta-Jones explained that her demanding work schedule has kept her busy and away from home for long stretches. She has been filming projects including ‘Wednesday’ and ‘Kill Jackie’, leaving her with little energy for reading during her downtime.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is too busy to finish reading her husband Michael Douglas’ new memoir 💀 🎥: TODAY/NBC https://t.co/iagDaLo0vL

— Page Six (@PageSix) October 8, 2026

For many fans, the answer felt refreshingly relatable. After a long day on set, it seems even Hollywood royalty just wants to put their feet up. Her comments came shortly after Douglas spoke to Page Six about the book. In that interview, he said his wife was in the middle of reading the memoir and that he hoped she would be understanding about its racier chapters.

Douglas also said he had already talked to her about the book and had no regrets about being so open. He joked that Zeta-Jones was just a young girl during the period covering many of his past romances. Zeta-Jones plays a major role in the memoir, with an entire chapter simply titled “Catherine”. In it, Douglas describes first seeing the Welsh actress in the 1998 film ‘The Mask of Zorro’.

It sounds like it was love at first sight for Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones. The actor reflects on his nearly 26-year marriage and shares what the couple took away from their brief separation in 2013, which he writes about in his memoir, ‘One Helluva Ride,’ out now.

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) October 6, 2026

He also recalls reading in an interview that she liked older men. The couple, who share a birthday, are exactly 25 years apart in age and met in 1998 at a film festival. Douglas and Zeta-Jones have been married since November 2000, making their relationship one of Hollywood’s most enduring. Douglas has described her as his soulmate.

Their marriage has had its ups and downs, including a brief split that Zeta-Jones addressed publicly in 2022. Still, the couple has remained together, and her playful comments suggest a relationship comfortable enough to joke about even the most revealing book.

Beyond the romances, ‘One Helluva Ride’ covers Douglas’ difficult childhood, his struggles with addiction, and his career highs. In a separate interview with Diane Sawyer, he shared that he rarely smiled or laughed as a child. With so many stories inside, it is perhaps understandable that Zeta-Jones would rather leave the reading to everyone else.

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