Ryan Phillippe has revealed that he was a “physical wreck” after separating from wife Reese Witherspoon a year ago - but it’s helped his acting range.

Reese and Ryan were married for eight years before filing for divorce in November last year and have two children together, eight year old Ava and four year old Deacon.

While the couple insist the split was mutual and amicable for the sake of the children, Ryan told new magazine Man About Town that he still found it hard to adjust: “After the divorce I was a physical wreck. I wanted to die. I was ready to kill myself. I was not taking care of myself at all. I would wake up and cry and vomit.”

But the experience, like fatherhood in general, has made him familiar with new emotions which he can call on when acting: “Now, [crying]’s f**king easy. When I was younger, I didn’t have enough to cry about.”

“But since I’ve had kids, I feel my work has become better, because my life is fuller and more complicated, and I’ve experienced so many highs and lows.”