Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas Split! Why Are The Actors Taking A Break From Their Marriage?

After 13 years of marriage, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas have decided that they're going their separate ways and are taking a break from their marriage. "Catherine and Michael are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage," said Catherine's rep, declining to offer further comment. A rep for Douglas released a similar statement.

According to People Magazine, a friend of the couple said "stress" from Douglas' 2010 cancer battle and Zeta-Jones' struggles with bipolar II disorder "has taken a toll on their marriage." Michael, 68, and Catherine, 43, who have two children, Dylan, 13, and Carys, 10, together, decided to spend time apart soon after he came back from the Cannes Film Festival in May. Zeta-Jones had recently returned from a scheduled second round of treatment to monitor her bipolar disorder.

Douglas' frank comments about the cause of his throat cancer - he blamed it on a virus he contracted during oral sex - may have been one of the factors contributing to the alleged rift. "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," said Peter Castro, deputy editor for People Magazine.

In May, Douglas told ABC News' Elizabeth Vargas that he admired his wife's openness about her battles with bi-polar disorder. "She was smart to go public, you now," Douglas said. "[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."

Despite reports that Zeta-Jones was preparing for almost a half a million dollar divorce against her husband, according to Star magazine, representatives for Douglas have denied the couple have separated. However, the Hollywood actor did speak recently about one divorce, from his first wife Diandra, which he admitted should have ended sooner. He said: "I know I'm going to get into trouble here. I have nothing against her and in fact I'm very fond of my first wife. But we should have ended that marriage eight or 10 years earlier." Is he starting to feel the same way about Catherine?