Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas are “taking some time apart” to “work on their marriage”.

The actress, who married Douglas 13 years ago and has two children with him, released a statement through her publicist.

The Welsh star shot to fame in Britain in the early 1990s playing fresh-faced Mariette Larkin in the television adaptation of HE Bates’ The Darling Buds Of May before going on to Hollywood success.

A spokeswoman for the star said: “Catherine and Michael are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage. There will be no further comment.”