Michael Douglas got emotional at the Cannes Film Festival while expressing his gratitude to Steven Soderbergh and Matt Damon for waiting for him to film Behind the Candelabra. Douglas, who plays Liberace in HBO’s Behind the Candelabra, battled throat cancer a few years ago, putting off the film.

The idea of Douglas playing Liberace was first mentioned on the set of 2000’s award-winning film Traffic. Soderbergh, who won the Oscar for Best Director for Traffic, approached Douglas with the idea of playing Liberace. “I thought he was messing with me. I was playing the drug czar in this movie, Traffic, and I saw this pensive look on Steven’s face and he said, ‘You ever thought about Liberace?’” Douglas said.

Douglas went on to explain Soderbergh’s 13-year journey to make the film, including finding a writer and producing partner, before getting back to his casting. It was then that he became choked up.

“For me this has a— ” Douglas began before becoming upset, “…sorry. Because it was right after my cancer and this beautiful gift was handed to me. And, I’m eternally grateful to Steven and Matt… and everybody for waiting for me.”

The room applauded their support for Douglas and his return to the big screen. His performance as Liberace was also incredibly well received at the festival.

“For this to come along, when you’re wondering if you have a career—you’ve had this big hiatus, you don’t know what repercussions cancer has for being hired. It was something so much to look forward to,” Douglas told The Hollywood Reporter after the press conference.

Behind the Candelabra premiered on HBO May 26, and is set for theatrical release in Europe later this year.

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