Catherine Zeta-Jones made her first public appearance on Sunday, Sept. 22—the same day her estranged husband, Michael Douglas, collected a Primetime Emmy Award for his role in HBO’s Behind the Candelabra. No, Zeta-Jones wasn’t by the actor’s side at the star-studded event. Instead, the 43-year-old actress walked the red carpet in China’s Shandong province to announce the launch of a new $5 billion film studio and plans for an annual Chinese film festival hosted by AMC Entertainment. Zeta-Jones looked effortlessly chic wearing an orange and white Dennis Basso design. Later that night, she changed into a strapless emerald gown for the Wanda Film Production Center ground breaking ceremony in Qingdao, China. Though the Playing for Keeps star was on the other side of the globe, the Welsh beauty wasn’t far from Douglas’ mind. During his Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie acceptance speech, the 68-year-old living legend acknowledged his spouse of nearly 13 years. “I wanna thank my wife, Catherine, for her support,” said Douglas, who was wearing his wedding ring. The pair announced their split on Aug. 28. “Catherine and Michael are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage,” a rep for Zeta-Jones said in a statement to E! News. Douglas later downplayed his marital problems while talking to a reporter in Berlin. “I have a crisis at home?” he asked. “No, I think the press has a crisis. We are fine. My wife and I are fine.” The New York-based actors—parents to Dylan, 13, and Carys, 10—are not yet legally separated.
