Catherine Zeta-Jones 'outed' over bipolar

Speaking about his wife's struggle, Michael Douglas has revealed she may have been outed by a fellow patient at her treatment facility

Catherine Zeta Jones Michael Douglas
Catherine Zeta Jones Michael Douglas
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Speaking about his wife's struggle, Michael Douglas has revealed she may have been outed by a fellow patient at her treatment facility

Catherine Zeta-Jones may have had no choice but to be candid about her bipolar disorder - after it was revealed by husband Michael Douglas that she was 'outed' by a fellow patient.

The 41-year-old actress went into a rehabilitation centre for five days earlier this month to seek treatment for depression, later diagnosed as bipolar II disorder. She spoke out about her condition, urging other sufferers to seek help.

Speaking on the Oprah Winfrey show, her husband of 10 years praised his wife’s openness - but also revealed his frustration at her betrayal.

‘I must say, Catherine's being quite open about it because she was outed, you know,’ he told the talk show host.

‘She went to go get some help and some other patient probably in there said, 'Hey, you won't believe who's in here now.' And, so, once that happens, I think she felt best to kind of get out the story.'

The 66-year-old actor also claimed that it was Catherine’s Welsh background that encouraged her stoic approach to when he was diagnosed with throat cancer last year, as she 'bottled it all up' and just 'got on with it'.

‘I think that part of Catherine’s whole background, she’s Welsh and the Welsh it’s all stiff upper lip, not let your feelings show,’ he explained.

‘That played a big part of it, she’s got to be stoic and deal with all the stuff I’m going through. Probably the time I’m off the hook you finally relax.’

Michael’s admissions come as his wife was getting back to work filming Playing the Field in Louisiana.

‘She’s great now, she’s shooting a movie and she’s relieved she has a much better understanding because this was not something where she was clearly aware of what was going on’.

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