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Catherine Zeta-Jones: I don't want to be bipolar poster child

Dec 7, 2012, 17:01 GMT

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones doesn't want to be the 'poster child' for bipolar sufferers.

The 43-year-old actress went to rehab for five days in 2011 to deal with bipolar II disorder, just a short time after her husband Michael Douglas battled throat cancer.

Although Catherine released a statement revealing she suffers from depression, she is 'sick of talking' about her condition and wishes people would just let her get on with her life.

When asked how she is now feeling by interviewer Elizabeth Vargas on 'Good Morning America' on Friday (07.12.12), the Hollywood beauty snapped: 'You know what? I'm sick of talking about it because I never wanted to be the poster child for this. I never wanted this to come out publicly.

'It came out. And so I dealt with it the best way I could and that was just saying, 'Look, hey, I'm bipolar.' '

She added: 'Everyone has things going on and we deal with them the best we can. We can't jump from the rooftop shouting, 'I have this, look at me, victim.' We all have issues in life. I'm really happy that I have great friends, great support and that's all you can do.'

Catherine made her first big screen appearance for three years in musical movie 'Rock of Ages' alongside Tom Cruise and can now be seen with Gerard Butler in 'Playing for Keeps'.

The actress insists it is good to be back at work after taking a break to support Michael, 68, through his illness and care for their children, son Dylan, 12, and daughter Carys, nine.

She said: 'You know, after Michael had his cancer and then I had my issues, I had to stop for a moment. And then I've just been doing smaller roles in great, fun movies with great directors and that's fun for me.'

In January 2011, Michael stated his tumour had gone but he will have to undergo monthly screenings for the next two to three years to check that the cancer hasn't returned.