Catherine Zeta-Jones' Friend 'Worried' About Her Mental Health in Wake of Separation
A close friend of Catherine Zeta-Jones is speaking out about her concern for the actress who struggles with bipolar disorder. Anna Walker served as maid of honor during Zeta-Jones' wedding to Michael Douglas, but the Hollywood couple recently announced that they were separating after 13 years.
"The next few weeks will be very tough and I'm very worried about her," Walker told the Daily Mail. "This is a very traumatic time and her mental health could be adversely affected. Her mother Pat is with her at the moment, so I know she's in good hands. And nowadays there is very good medication that can help."
The news of the couple's separation broke late last week. Although they have separated, neither Zeta-Jones nor Douglas has filed for divorce. No one offered an explanation for the separation, though Douglas' representative told the press that they were "taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage."
"I'm sure it's not been easy for her to cope with the stress of Michael's illness," Walker said. "She's just had another round of treatment for her bipolar, and if she can keep that in check under all this stress, it will be a miracle."
Douglas revealed that he had been undergoing treatment for throat cancer in 2010 and was doing much better. He made a crass joke about how he contracted the cancer, which did not sit well with Zeta-Jones. She has been quite vocal about her life with bipolar disorder, in the hope of helping others with the illness.
"She was smart to go public, you know," Douglas told BC in May. "[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."
The couple shares two children, Dylan, 13, and Carys, 10. Zeta-Jones is reportedly hopeful they can work things out and reunite.
"Catherine is very old-fashioned and never wanted to ever go through a divorce," Walker said. "Her parents have been together for more than 50 years and are her role models. She wanted her marriage to be like theirs."
