Michael Douglas Loves Wife Catherine Zeta-Jones 'More Than Ever'

— -- Michael Douglas says he and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones are doing better than ever following their public separation in 2013.

The 70-year-old "Ant-Man" star opened up in a new interview about his relationship with his wife, their two children and his life after cancer.

"It feels like a rebirth after you go through cancer and you come out of it. You feel like you’re a child," the two-time Oscar winner told Britain's The Daily Mail. "You see priorities differently. You have a much deeper appreciation of marriage, of your children -- you see everything a little bit clearer, and a little brighter."

Douglas, who has been married to Zeta-Jones since 2000, made headlines in 2013 when he linked his tongue cancer to oral sex. His rep later clarified that the actor was not blaming his specific cancer on oral sex -- he simply meant that oral sex was a suspected cause of certain oral cancers.

"I was trying to make a public service comment," he told the paper. "It was one of those things... and I so regretted any embarrassment that it caused Catherine. And her family."

Soon after he made the comments, Douglas and Zeta-Jones separated, but the actor told the Daily Mail that his comments weren't to blame.

The stress of Douglas's illness put on strain on their relationship, the actor said.

"We had a little bump in the road," he explained. "The problem in this business is that everything is so public."

He continued, "I love Catherine as much, more than I ever have. And hopefully the feeling’s mutual. We worked things out -- if both people want to work something out and make it better, you can do it. You can’t do it if it’s just one person."

The parents of 14-year-old Dylan and 12-year-old Carys, they are just about to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary.

"It feels great," Douglas said.