Catherine Zeta-Jones is Back at Work

Catherine Zeta-Jones visited with the Today show this week while out stumping for her new movie Rock of Ages. The actress looked fit, flirty, and fabulous at 42 in her sleeveless al -black attire as she openly discussed her family’s recent health battles.

Many were shocked last year when Zeta-Jones announced that she suffers from bipolar II disorder and had opted to check herself into a mental health clinic to deal with it.

Bipolar II disorder can show up in someone at any point in life, and is usually brought on by stress. Considering that Zeta-Jones was dealing with her husband, actor Michael Douglas, fighting cancer 2010-2011, as well has having his ex-wife suing for a portion of the proceeds from the Wall Street movie sequel, it’s no wonder Zeta-Jones was stressed out.

In this week’s interview, Zeta-Jones assures she is in a good place now and ready to move forward with her life.

“I feel great, it's time to move on. I'm one of many, many people who suffer with this, one of many people who are caring for cancer survivors – he's two years clean, I'm very happy to report. It puts real life into perspective," Zeta-Jones told Today’s Matt Lauer.

Douglas spent 2010 fighting Stage IV throat cancer. He announced in early 2011 that, following aggressive treatments, the tumor was gone and he is considered cancer-free.

In an interview last year with Lauer, Douglas confidently said, "I think the odds are with the tumor gone, and what I know about this particular type of cancer [is] that I've got it beat."

Douglas also explained how the process of fighting cancer changed him.

"All of a sudden the affection from my family, from my friends, and from my fans hit me at a much deeper level than I would have ever imagined before. And it gave me a really new appreciation of just how valuable, how precious good friends are and family."

In her interview this week with Lauer, Zeta-Jones said, “I take my hat off to him, because he never once lost his sense of humor, even in his darkest days. It’s a terrible, terrible process to go through, but he was strong throughout.”

Able to focus once again on her career, Zeta-Jones’ new movie Rock of Ages comes out this week, and she has shared that she loves playing the villain in the modern musical.

“Any chance I get to sing and dance, even at home, I take.”

Zeta-Jones has also admitted to accepting the role before even reading the script.

"I think Patricia Whitmore [her character in Rock of Ages] is the kind of woman who sees her role as first lady of Los Angeles as being much more important than her husband's role as mayor, and there's no question as to who wears the pants in the family.

"She's an outspoken activist who feels rock 'n' roll is satanic music, and she creates a campaign to clean up what she believes is the real filth of her city's streets: rock music... Even before seeing the script, I knew it would be a blast and I had to be a part of it."

We’re glad Zeta-Jones is healthy, happy, and back to work. We can’t wait to see Rock of Ages this weekend!