Josh Hartnett has confirmed that he has separated from Scarlett Johansson.

The pair were believed to have split in November last year after a two year relationship but despite rumours linking Josh to Sienna Miller - and Scarlett to Justin Timberlake and more recently to Mark Wahlberg, neither party has previously commented on the end of their relationship.

Speaking in an interview with the Mirror, Josh described their break-up as “really painful”.

“It was difficult spending so much time apart with all our different commitments and both of us flying all over the world.”

“At the end of the day, we’re just ordinary people and it didn’t work.”

A source close to the actor added: “Josh was gutted when he and Scarlett split - he thought she was really special and felt they might last the distance. But the pressure just got too much and when they saw each other they’d row as they were both so exhausted.”

“Scarlett was very much a one-off. She was independent, feisty and outgoing - everything he wanted. But the relationship just didn’t work out.”

“It’s taken a while but he’s getting over it now - he’s just immersing himself in work.”