Michael Douglas let fans in on amajorlife update from the comfort of a stunning garden in Italy, where he prepared to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Taormina Film Festival.
The 80-year-old was celebratedfor his incrediblecontributionto the film industry,a night whichhe documented in a video posted on Instagram.
To see Michael's life update, watch below...
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Michael's Italian adventure
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"Hello friends! Iwantto share with you a bucket listspot,reallyextraordinary!Taormina, Sicily!" Michael wrote in the caption. "My first time back in 21 years, it'sjust absolutely magical here!"
"Thankyou@taorminafilmfestofficial!" he added. "I am grateful and honored to receive the lifetime achievement award as we celebrate the 50th anniversary ofOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!"
The video began with Michael standing in a lush garden in Taormina, with the sun beating down and Mount Etna emitting steam in the background.
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"Absolute magic," he called the sea views that greeted him as he wandered through the flowers. He then shared a behind-the-scenes look at the set-up for the famous film festival, followed by shots of Michael walking the red carpet and taking photos with fans.
He took his followers inside the ampitheater before the viewing ofOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the acclaimed film that Michael produced 50 years ago.
The father of three then took to the stage to accept the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award andgaveashortspeech thanking those involved in the festival.
The nepotism question
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He also spoke about feeling connected to Italy through his late father, Kirk Douglas, after spending time with him in the Mediterranean country.
"When I'm here, I can't stop thinking of my father and his love for Italy and how much time we spent here, and I'm touched now when I realize that between my father and I, we made over 150 movies and we spanned 80 years," he said.
"All three of my children want to be actors, soit may be continuing for another generation," he added.
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Michael shares his eldest sonCameronwithhis ex-wifeDiandraLuker,and hiskidsDylan and Carys withhis current wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Amid the growing conversation around nepotism in the industry, Michael spoke about his own experience as a nepo baby and recalled how difficult it was to escape his father's shadow.
"I don't know about you, but I think everybody tries to get their son or daughter to work in the same industry," he said in a Q&A session at the film festival.
"I don't know why they picked on actors. If you're a carpenter, you want your son or your daughter to join you…The reality is that if you're second generation, you're trying to establish your own image, your own identity."
He added that winning the Best Actor Oscar for 1987's Wall Street"was the first time I felt that I was out of the shadow of my dad."
"Wall Streetwas crucial for me, and giving myself the confidence to know that I was accepted as an actor, because I always felt people like to think because you're second generation, 'Oh, well, your father helped you,'" he said.
