Reese Witherspoon reveals anguish over Ryan Phillippe split

Oscar winning actress Reese Witherspoon has spoken for the first time about the break down of her marriage to Ryan Phillippe, revealing she was struck by panic attacks months after they split.

The couple, who have a daughter Ava, 7, and son Deacon, 3, ended their in October last year after seven years of marriage.

She told Elle magazine: "Right around Christmastime I was sitting in a parking lot and I felt like I just couldn't get out of the car."

"It was like, I can't get out of the car."

The Walk The Line star found comfort in knowing others had endured similar heartache.

She said: "I thought, Okay, half of the parking lot has dealt with this. More than half of the parking lot has dealt with this."

"Okay, let's make it a little bigger. Half of this city has dealt with this. Okay, let's make it a little bigger – half of this country, until I finally got out of the car."

Phillippe has been romantically linked to Australian actress Abbie Cornish, 25, whom he met while filming the drama Stop Loss.

They are reportedly preparing to reunite onscreen in Last Battle Dreamer.

Meanwhile, Witherspoon, 31, quietly started dating Jake Gyllenhaal, her co-star in the thriller Rendition, earlier this year but cooled things off in June.

The actress also revealed her dislike of being tabloid fodder, while taking a swipe at Hollywood's young set.

She said: "It's one thing if you're up for it and you want it, and you go out without your panties on."

"But if you're wearing panties - gosh darn it, leave me alone!"