Carys Douglas: Inside the Glamorous Life of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas' Nepo Baby

Carys Zeta Douglas, 22, is carving out a niche in film and fashion as the daughter of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas. A Brown University graduate with a degree in film and international relations, she has already acted in a Spike Lee short film and has modeled in campaigns alongside her mother.

Born in 2003, Carys grew up largely out of the spotlight in Bermuda, where her parents shielded their children from public life. The family moved to New York in 2009, first buying a six-bedroom, six-bathroom colonial in Bedford for about 5.1 million dollars. Five years later they upgraded to a much larger 15,000-square-foot mansion on about 13 acres, a residence that included eight bedrooms, 13.5 bathrooms, a spa, a steam room and an at-home gym, plus tennis courts, a pool and equestrian facilities. Michael Douglas has said the children are not spoiled; the family emphasizes being good citizens and maintaining a close-knit, grounded home life.

Carys initially did not fully grasp how famous her parents were. She has recalled that in her early years she thought her father was a pancake maker, not an actor, a reflection of how life in Bermuda allowed for a more private upbringing. As the family transitioned to life in New York, she faced the pressures of paparazzi and constant attention, recounting how subway lingers and flashes became part of childhood trips. Those experiences coincided with a period of personal and family hardship that included Michael’s battle with tongue cancer in 2010 and Catherine’s hospitalization for bipolar disorder and depression in the early 2010s. The couple briefly separated in 2011 before reconciling, a chapter they later described as strengthening the family.

Despite the early stumbles, Carys has grown into a public figure who embraces some of the benefits of her upbringing while pursuing her own artistic path. She has attended fashion shows and major film events alongside her parents, including Cannes, and she has expressed a strong interest in acting from a young age. Catherine has said that Carys showed a fervent passion for the craft, noting that summers were spent at theater camps and that her daughter was determined to pursue acting even when her family urged her to consider other avenues.

Her education at Brown University, where she earned a degree in film and international relations, complemented her hands-on experience in acting and modeling. She has appeared in several short films during college, including a Spike Lee project, and she has modeled in campaigns with her mother, including a notable moment in a Fendi campaign in 2021 when she was still in her teens. Her social media presence—tens of thousands of followers—reflects a lifestyle that blends runway-ready moments with glimpses of private family travel and everyday experiences. She has said that her parents keep her grounded and that their reality checks help balance the extraordinary life they lead.

Beyond acting and modeling, Carys has explored music, sharing a clip of herself singing an original song in recent months. Her trajectory suggests a deliberate path toward acting and storytelling, with a family history that provided both shelter and pressure. She has described a desire to follow in her parents’ footsteps, while also shaping a distinct voice through independent projects and collaborations.

The family’s narrative—years of privacy in Bermuda, a move to New York and the public eye, and a commitment to staying connected and grounded—continues to shape Carys’ approach to fame. As she navigates the complexities of growing up with two iconic parents, she remains focused on her craft, her education, and her own evolving sense of style and purpose. In interviews and public appearances, Catherine and Michael convey a shared belief that their children should understand both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with celebrity, a philosophy they say has helped keep their family resilient through the years.