Hollywood Icon, 96, Makes Rare Public Appearance

'It was at a time in New York when there was a lot of sex and a lot of people doing all kinds of things, you know - very free.'

'But I don't know if there was a lack of commitment a little bit, and that's not good. So there was a lot of pain connected with any transgression, with any extramarital thing.'

The star's revelation came as she published her memoir, Middle of the Rainbow, which she said is intended to serve as a 'history of women's experiences.' 

In her memoir, Bonnie wrote about how she looked for a 'kinder and gentler man' than William to see during the early days of their marriage.

She described having 'an affair that lasted a few months' in 1959. Bonnie said it was with a 'slightly boring actor,' but added that 'the sex was good.'

'I never felt guilty because I never felt tied to fidelity, and neither did Bill,' she said.

Bonnie wrote that in the early 1970s William began seeing a producer, and that the relationship 'devastated' her.

After that experience, she said she 'could no longer tolerate any kind of open marriage.'

Bonnie wrote that she thought their marriage was 'doomed' after that affair.

'Bill and I have moved forward day-by-day and eventually, the days added up,' she wrote. 'We've been happy together and sad together, and somehow stayed together for seven decades.'

'It was very painful for the both of us,' the actress shared. 'But it was something we had to go through because we never went through it. When we got together I was 18. Bill was my first boyfriend,' she said. 'We just had to go through all that and still, we loved each other very much and always have.

'[We] have always been there for each other. That's what matters - if you're there for the person and help [them] along in a relationship, [have] respect for them and what they're doing and being there for them. [You have to] be together on the other side.'

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