Michael Douglas has confirmed, in an excerpt from his upcoming memoir One Helluva Ride, that he and co-star Kathleen Turner had a secret romantic relationship while filming 1984's Romancing the Stone — ending four decades of public denial. Turner has now responded to the revelation.

What Douglas Wrote

Douglas, now 82, acknowledged the long-rumored affair directly: "The chemistry I had with Kathleen Turner was so strong, audiences have been certain for years that we were in a relationship together while making the film. We both denied it through Romancing The Stone, Jewel of the Nile, War of the Roses, and even while doing press a few years ago for The Kominsky Method. Yes, we were both, as Kathleen said, 'terrible flirts,' and yes, we were both tempted, but nothing ever happened between us. That was a lie." He added: "The truth is that during the production of Romancing the Stone, Kathleen and I fell hard for each other and began a relationship."

When the Relationship Took Place

The romance occurred between July and October 1983, during filming in Mexico, at a time when Douglas was separated from his then-wife, Diandra Lukar (Douglas), with whom he shared a young son, Cameron.

How and Why It Ended

Douglas wrote that his wife Diandra grew suspicious during a set visit and spoke privately with Turner, making clear that she and Douglas were still married. That conversation gave Turner pause, and according to Douglas, "after that visit, Kathleen and I ended things, and I went back to Diandra." Douglas said he and Turner kept the relationship secret for 40 years specifically to "protect my wife and son," calling it "a lie we told the world for 40 years."

Kathleen Turner's Response

Turner, 72, responded with characteristic humor in a statement shared with People on Friday: "Good heavens what a fuss about something 40 years ago! I love Michael and I look forward to enjoying the book."

Turner's Past Hints About the Era

In a past conversation with The Guardian, Turner had previously reflected on that period, describing Douglas's attention at the time as "delicious" and admitting she believed the two of them might have been falling in love before Diandra's set visit intervened.

Turner Gave Her Blessing Before Publication

According to KATU, Douglas sought and received Turner's blessing before including the story in his memoir — meaning the revelation wasn't a surprise to Turner when the excerpt went public, even if the broader media reaction clearly was something she found amusing rather than distressing.

A Partnership That Outlasted the Secret

Douglas and Turner went on to star together in several more projects after Romancing the Stone, including its sequel The Jewel of the Nile (1985), The War of the Roses (1989), and more recently The Kominsky Method. Turner won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in The Jewel of the Nile. Despite the decades of public denial, the two have remained close friends.

A Notable Omission From Turner's Own Memoir

Turner published her own memoir, Send Yourself Roses: Thoughts on My Life, Love, and Leading Roles, back in 2008, but chose not to disclose the romance at that time — leaving it to Douglas's own memoir, nearly two decades later, to finally confirm what fans had long suspected.

What's Next

Douglas's memoir, One Helluva Ride, is set for publication, with this excerpt offering one of its more attention-grabbing revelations ahead of the book's full release. For continuing coverage, see the full report from The Hollywood Reporter.