Michael Douglas Reminisces About Meeting Now-Wife Catherine Zeta-Jones During Career Tribute at Deauville Film Festival
Michael Douglas reminisced about meeting his now wife Catherine Zeta-Jones at France’s Deauville American Film Festival in 1998 as he received a career tribute on Friday, the opening night of the milestone 50th anniversary edition.
Douglas, who was introduced on stage by his “Franklin” co-star Ludivine Sagnier (“Lupin”) and drew a long standing ovation, went on to talk — partly in French — about his long history with the Deauville Film Festival and precisely the “slight issue of Catherine.”
More from Variety
Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams, Sebastian Stan to Be Honored at Deauville Film Festival
Daisy Ridley to Receive Deauville Festival's Hollywood Rising Star Award
“I had just seen three weeks before I came to the festival this movie ‘Zorro,’ ‘Mon Dieu!,” joked Douglas. “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.”
It marks his fifth trip to the festival which he last attended in 2013 to present “My Life with Liberace.” He’s receiving this career tribute 25 years after his late father Kirk, who was also feted at Deauville with a posthumous retrospective in 2020.
Speaking of the longevity of his career, Douglas, who came to the festival solo, exclaimed, “55 years! You work as hard on your failures as you do you on successes, but a writer writes with a pen or with a computer and a painter paints, a musician plays an instruments, with film you have an army.”
“I think the successes I have in my career (come from) my belief in material and not worrying about my role,” said Douglas, whose speech followed a montage of clips from his most iconic roles from “Wall Street,” to “Fatal Attraction,” “Basic Instinct,” “The Game,” “Falling Down” and “Traffic.”
“I would rather have a small part in a good movie than a big role in a bad movie. So I really want to thank all of the wonderful talented craftsman that I’ve worked with over the years, my directors, my fellow actors, my producers, costume designers,” the actor continued.
Douglas is so beloved in Deauville that one of the most beautiful suites of the five-star Royal Hotel is named after him, along with a bungalow on the beach. He said he’s been lucky to stay in his own suite which is decorated with photos of him from all the movies he’s starred in.
As previously announced, Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams and Sebastian Stan will also be celebrated during the 50th edition. Portman and Williams will receive the Deauville Talent Award for their career achievements, while Stan will be honored with the Hollywood Rising Star Award.
This year marks the inaugural edition of new artistic director Aude Hesbert, who’s just joined the fesitval from Los Angeles where she headed the French film and TV residency program Villa Albertine. The festival has also enlisted new sponsors such as Canal+ and launched a new prize, the Prix Nouvelle Génération which was awarded to director Malia Ann for her first short film “The Heart.” The latter screened on opening night before “Lee Miller,” Ellen Kuras’s biopic of the pioneering photographer played by Kate Winslet.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.