Carys Zeta Douglas' career in theater after graduation: 'We are both such proud parents,' Michael Douglas says

Carys Zeta Douglas, the daughter of Hollywood icons Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, is stepping into her own spotlight, and she’s doing it on her own terms.

Fresh from graduating from Brown University earlier this year with a degree in Film and International Relations, the 22-year-old is setting her sights on the performing arts. 

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Carys revealed she’s eager to return to the creative roots she grew up around. “I grew up doing theater, and I didn't study acting in school, but that's why I'm happy to be in such an informative arts space, so hopefully more of that,” she told People at the 2025 PAC NYC Icons of Culture Gala, reflecting on her plans to pursue performance opportunities now that college is behind her.

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The gala, held at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City, marked one of Carys’ first major appearances since finishing her studies. Dressed in a sleek, classic look that mirrored her mother’s timeless style.

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Her father, who serves on the PAC board, beamed with pride beside her. “It's very nice. I mean, I'm sorry Catherine's missing it tonight,” Douglas said at the event. “She's working, but I'm very happy that Carys could be with me, just to be with her, but also I'm on the board here at PAC. You see this all come together, as successfully as it had, and this whole concept of icons, especially for New York, is a really good idea. I like it.”

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It’s clear that both parents have supported Carys’ ambitions from the beginning. When she graduated from Brown in May, Zeta-Jones shared a heartfelt message on Instagram celebrating her daughter’s achievement. “The night before graduation!!!! We are both such proud parents right now!! It’s only just begun!!” she wrote, alongside a photo of her and Douglas kissing their daughter on each cheek.

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That milestone marked the end of an era for the longtime couple, who also share 25-year-old son Dylan. The pair is now embracing life as empty nesters, something they once found daunting but now see as rewarding. During a September appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Zeta-Jones described their new chapter as joyful, not lonely.

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“We're good. And the coolest thing is our kids, who are now 25 and [22], like to hang with us. And that's the best,” she said. In 2021, Douglas had admitted that the transition to an empty house felt “scary.” But several years later, both stars say they’re thriving, focusing on work, travel, and each other, while celebrating their children’s independence.

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Carys’ path, meanwhile, seems to blend both her parents’ legacies and her own sensibilities. Though her studies leaned toward film theory and global issues, her creative pull is undeniable. Growing up surrounded by cinema, and by parents who each won Academy Awards,  she’s now exploring how to carve out her own artistic identity.

With her mother absent from the gala, Carys admitted that she occasionally “borrows” from Zeta-Jones’ enviable wardrobe. “I feel I love vintage clothes. I don't really like to buy, I'm not really into fast fashion stuff, just for sustainability reasons, so I feel very lucky that I have a wonderful closet that I can pick from,” she said. “But I should probably tell her more, because I snag a little too much. She's like, ‘Is that my bag?’ I'm like, ‘I don't know. I don't think so.’”