Catherine Zeta-Jones Says 'Nepo Baby' Is a 'Horrific Phrase'

Catherine Zeta-Jones is weighing in on the "nepo baby" debate, insisting her and Michael Douglas' two children are forging their own paths in life.

Zeta-Jones, 56, and Douglas, 81, share son Dylan, 26, and daughter Carys, 23, who are both following in their parents' famous footsteps. (Douglas himself is the son of late Oscar winner Kirk Douglas.)

"They're plugging away," the Wednesday actress said of her children in an interview with the U.K.'s Sunday Times published on Sunday, September 13.

Zeta-Jones noted that Carys "wanted to be Amal Clooney for a while," referring to the human rights lawyer, "but you have to go with your dreams, your passion."

According to the actress, "it's hard for [Dylan and Carys] to forge a way forward on their own" because they have famous parents.

"This horrific phrase ‘nepo baby' is horrible because these kids didn't ask to be born into this, they're finding their own way in life," she said.

"But they love [acting], and they're good. Otherwise Michael and I would be the first to go, ‘You know what? Maybe law school looks really good,'" she shared.

The family business is also what Zeta-Jones credits for her long-lasting marriage to Douglas. The couple has been married for 25 years, and the actress said "working" helps them stay on track.

"Michael is, like, ‘Go and do that job, that's amazing,' and then he's able to fly in and see me for a long weekend," the Oscar winner shared. "Much better than waking up, going, ‘What do you want for breakfast, honey?' I don't think our marriage would ever have lasted if it was like that."

Zeta-Jones marked her 25th wedding anniversary in November 2025 with a touching Instagram tribute to her husband.

"25 years ago today, I walked down the aisle. The intoxicating aroma of flowers, the glow of the candles, the resounding harmonious Welsh choir and you at the end of the long walk waiting for me, looking at me the way only you can," she captioned a series of photos from their wedding. "I love you today as I did then. Thank you sweetheart♥️."

In her Sunday Times interview, Zeta-Jones also opened up about raising her children in the spotlight.

"It was really hard when I had my babies. Living in New York, pushing them to kindergarten, it was really hard because you've got [photographers] jumping on the underground with us and it was awful," she recalled. "That's when Michael and I made the decision to go to Bermuda and school them there, the best thing we ever did."

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This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 2:42 AM.