Cameron Diaz Credits Therapy as 'Big Thing' in Marriage with Benji Madden: 'It's What We Depend On'

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Speaking to brother-in-law Joel Madden, Cameron Diaz opened up about having "100 percent commitment" to her marriage

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Cameron Diaz on Nov. 19; Benji Madden on May 13

Cameron Diaz is opening up about the key to marriage success with Benji Madden.

Speaking candidly to her brother-in-law Joel Madden on the Wednesday, Dec. 11 episode of his Artist Friendly podcast, the actress-entrepreneur, 52, credited therapy as a cornerstone of her relationship. 

"Therapy is a big thing in our family," she said with a laugh. "It's what we depend on."

Joel, 45, who has been married to Nicole Richie since 2010, agreed: "Big time."

Related: Cameron Diaz 'Feels Beyond Lucky' to Have 2 Kids with Benji Madden: 'They Love Being Parents' (Exclusive)

For Diaz, regular couples therapy reinforces having "that commitment to work on" a marriage.

"To not do the same thing over and over again, trying to figure out if doing it again will make it work this time. Going, like, 'Why didn't it work? How can I make it work? What's my part? What's the other person's work?' "

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Benji Madden and Cameron Diaz in 2016

By talking out conflicts and issues with a third-party professional, she added, couples can "go into the next attempt a little bit more equipped to hopefully come out with a different outcome."

TheBack in Actionstar shares Raddix and Cardinal with Benji, 45.

"You can't be in a marriage and have a family if both people are not 100 percent every day," she told Joel of their relationship. "Nobody can be 99 and the other one be 100. Even if you're mad at each other, don't want to see each other, sick of each other, it's still 100 percent commitment to the marriage and to the partnership and the family."

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Contrasting her marriage with Benji's fraternal relationship, she said she often must tell her husband, "I'm not your twin… You can't finish my sentences. You don't know what I'm thinking."

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Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden in 2022

Related: Nicole Richie Says Husband Joel and Their Kids Can't Agree on Vacations: 'Maddens Do Not Like the Beach' (Exclusive)

"For me as a brother," Joel told Diaz, her marrying Benji was "the best thing that ever happened to him."

"Yeah, it is," she responded with a laugh. "It's the thing that I'm most grateful for in my life, is our marriage and our family. Period. That's it."

Diaz's appearance on Artist Friendly marked the 100th episode of the Good Charlotte vocalist's podcast. She is currently filming director-star Jonah Hill's dark comedy film Outcome, reuniting with Feeling Minnesota costar Keanu Reeves.

Back in Action, costarring Jamie Foxx, Glenn Close, Kyle Chandler and Andrew Scott, will premiere on Netflix on Jan. 17, 2025. 

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