'I was ready to kill myself after splitting from Reese,' reveals Ryan Phillippe

The couple met a decade ago and were thought to have one of the most rock solid marriages in showbusiness - but shocked Hollywood with their split last year.

Now Philippe, 33, has said the breakdown of his relationship with the Legally Blonde actress left him "a physical wreck."

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In a surprisingly candid confession he told UK magazine Man About Town: "After the divorce 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."

The pair met at Miss Witherspoon's 21st birthday bash and went on to work together on the 1999 film Cruel Intentions. They married in June that year.

Although neither has spoken openly about the reason for the split, there was speculation at the time that Philippe was unable to cope with his wife's success.

Miss Witherspoon, 31, is one of Hollywood's most bankable actresses, commandeering a salary of £18 million per movie.

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But while her star has been ascending, Philippe's pay packet has averaged £200,000, the fee he was reportedly paid for the film Crash.

Speculation their marriage was in trouble began when he snapped: "My wife is my pass" before barging past a security guard at an Oscars aftershow party last year.

The Louisiana born actress filed for divorce just nine days after the couple announced their separation.

At the time, Phillippe was linked to his then costar Abbie Cornish, however the Australian actress denied having she was having affair with the star.

Other reports suggest Miss Witherspoon read an incriminating message on his Blackberry that led her to end the marriage.

Since the split Miss Witherspoon - who has two children with Philippe - has been seen enjoying the company of fellow actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

She won primary custody of the couple's two children and the family home while Philippe was granted visiting rights for the children.