Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have separated

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have split, at least for a while.

“Catherine and Michael are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage,� a rep for the actress said in a statement Wednesday.

The Hollywood power couple, who married in 2000 and have two children together, haven’t been photographed together since April 22 and decided to separate in May after he returned from the Cannes Film Festival, People first reported. Neither has taken action toward divorce or legal separation, the mag said.

A friend said that stresses over the past few years — his battle with throat cancer, and her treatment for bipolar II disorder — have exacted a price from the marriage.

Also, according to E! News, Zeta-Jones was unhappy about comments her husband made to the Guardian about his cancer being caused by HPV, the human papilloma virus, which he said was transmitted to him via oral sex.

Still, those in the know told People there’s still hope for reconciliation.

Douglas, 68, was in Cannes with his most recent release, HBO’s “Behind the Candelabra,� in which he played Liberace. The 43-year-old actress appears in “Red 2,� currently in theaters.

The couple’s children are Dylan, 13, and Carys, 10.

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