Michael Douglas has noted that he is able avoid competing with his wife Catherine Zeta Jones for professional success thanks to their age gap, which can only help cement their marriage.

The Sentinel star is 25 years older than his Welsh partner but has said the fact that he has "been there and done that" means that they can bypass the tension that most Hollywood couples find problematic.

According to Contactmusic, the actor remarked: "I'm letting Catherine call the shots because she's in the prime of her career. The fact is I don't compete with her for parts or attention.

"We do the red carpet and people will say, 'Catherine, can we get a picture of you alone, for the dress?' I have no problem with that and it makes for a more comfortable relationship. I can see why it would be hard for her to be with someone closer to her own age," he added.