TAormina teems with foreign tourists. An American who made the history of cinema is wandering between the crowd. This is Michael Douglas, now 80 years old, chased by a crowd of curiousas she wanders around the central course and goes into the churches of the Sicilian town. Is the first international guest of Taormina Film Festival 2025, Back in the hands of the artistic director Tiziana Rocca.
The actor of Basic Instinct, Fatal attractionawarded with the Oscar for the interpretation of the bad Gordon Gekko in Wall Strett and as a producer back in 1976 for Someone flew on the cuckoo’s nest, It is told in front of an audience of students in the heart of the town. Retraces part of the long career, he talks about the weight of being “son of”, of the most important meeting of his life (with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones) e of throat cancer in the fourth stadium before turning Behind the candelabra by Soderbergh.
Michael Douglas and throat cancer in the fourth stadium: “I thought I was dying”
“I thought that Behind the candelabra by Steven Soderbergh – released in 2013, editor’s note – was my latest film “said Douglas, who will receive from Iris Knobloch, president of the Cannes Film Festival, the Taormina Excellence Achievement Award. «I had lost two friends at that time for the same evil – he says – that film represents a lot for me, I thought I would not have worked anymore. Instead, after a year of pause I resumed strength and weight. I was happy and excited to get back to work».
A very long career made of great successesbut “my biggest fortune was to marry My wife Catherine Zeta-Jones», While his greatest disappointment” The last elections in my country “.
Michael Douglas at the Taormina Film Festival 2025. (IPA)
“I was the” son of “. Then Fatal attraction he changed my career “
Michael retraces the highlights of his careerabove all when the turning point came, shaking the shadow of his father Kirk off. “I had difficulty finding my identityeveryone told me that I was very close to him, “reveals the actor who suddenly is interrupted by the ringing of the mobile phone: he is his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones.
«The Oscar for Gekko’s interpretation in Wall Strett it was very important – reveals – Because I had come out of the shadow of the great Kirk. I finally felt recognized as an actor. Also thanks to the success of Fatal attractionwhich came out three months later Wall Street. There has been a combination of factors they have My career completely changed. Today Gekko looks like a mouse compared to the men of the modern world – says Douglas – There are corrupt people and they are all in Silicon Valley ».
Michael Douglas, the fear of the stage and that basket where to vomit
Douglas’ children also have the ball of acting. «It is unlikely that the third generation is also successful but they push my children because they love theater and have a great passion. When I started I didn’t want to be an actorit was more resentment towards my parents, it was a fact of revenge. Then at the university I understood that I wanted to make that profession in life, But I was afraid of the stage, I was nervous and I had a basket where I vomit before entering the scene».
America has a great liability of the chaos that we are experiencing
From the audience a girl asks the actor for a reflection on the wars that the world is facing. “I was born in 1944, at the end of the Second World War, but I think it is the worst period of history today – he is convinced – we continue to invest in wars. It is ridiculous and I continue to ask why our intelligence will bring us to this. America has a great liability of the chaos that we are experiencing. I apologize, I am ashamed and I am embarrassment when I speak with my Mexican, Canadian and European friends ».
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