He’s the hairdresser to the stars and has worked with countless A-listers – including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Johnny Depp – but in recent years Michael Douglas has hit the headlines after working with TV Queen Davina McCall… who also happens to be his partner! The pair regularly post selfies and funny videos together backstage from her gig on the panel of The Masked Singer.
In November Davina opened up about having a rare brain tumour removed, with Michael supporting her through recovery. Now, Michael – who first met Davina over 20 years ago while working backstage on Big Brother before they started dating in 2019 – exclusively tells Closer they’re stronger than ever and have even discussed tying the knot!
‘Davina’s a very strong person,’ Michael says as he happily discusses the beloved presenter’s recovery. ‘I’ve had to rise to match that strength so there’s equity in the game.
‘There have certainly been times where you feel a bit fragile. But it’s been a privileged experience because you get to learn so much about yourself in the darkness. It’s been incredibly valuable.’
Although mum-of-three Davina is still partway through her recovery, Michael tells us the outcome is looking positive.
‘She’s doing really well,’ he says. ‘The general feeling is that it couldn’t have gone better. There was about a month of uncertainty where we just didn’t know what kind of recovery she was going to make. The middle of November to the middle of December was like no man’s land, but the brain is recovering really well.
‘We’ve had a big chat about it, and she says she really feels like herself again.’
Discussing the couple’s plans for the rest of the year, Michael says, ‘We’ve both woken up this year with a real sense of optimism and excitement for 2025.
‘We’re big fans of stepping out into the unknown so I think there’ll be a bit of that going on this year. We’ll be trying some new things and seeing what happens.’ So, could a proposal for Davina and Michael potentially be on the cards?
‘I don’t know,’ he laughs. ‘We often talk about it, but I don’t think so. What I love about us is we’re not tied to each other and that’s what keeps us there in a way.
‘There’s something nice about being independent people so we’re working out what it would mean for us to be married and if it’s something we should do and if we need to do it or not.
‘I actually don’t know the answer and neither does she, but it’s a funny thing that is hovering around us all the time.’
During our chat, Michael shares anecdotes from his 35-year career in hairdressing, including a hilarious tale in which he thought he had wooed actress Amber Heard.
He tells us, ‘I worked with Johnny Depp on a film called Mortdecai and I was on set watching him film a scene and I was sat next to a very attractive girl who said “hello” to me and I was like, “wow”, I asked her if she wanted a cup of tea and she said “yeah” and I was like, “wow – she wants a cup of tea from me!” And then Johnny finished his scene, walked off set and kissed her. I was like, “Oh f**k, yes, of course, she’s his girlfriend.”
‘It is nerve-wracking doing celebrities’ hair because you somehow see them as being different to you,’ Michael admits.
‘But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised we’re all just the same and those insecurities have gone away. The thing I enjoy most is the privileged access you get to people that you love and respect.’