Ryan Phillippe has denied reports that he left Reese Witherspoon for fellow actress Abbie Cornish.  

Speaking to W magazine, the Cruel Intentions star – who finalized his divorce with Witherspoon last October – insists his marriage was over long before he met Cornish.

"I had difficulties in my relationship, and in my marriage, long before I ever met her,” said Phillippe.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's a friendship [with Cornish], and we are getting to know each other in a really difficult situation."

The actor also insists that breaking up with Witherspoon was far from easy.

"You get through it,” he added.  “It's a process that's not easy, but I get less and less sad about it every day.

The former couple share custody of eight-year-old Ava Elizabeth and four-year-old Deacon Reese.