Ryan Phillippe has confessed he was not prepared for paparazzi attention following his marriage to Reese Witherspoon, which in turn has caused his children to suffer snapper anxiety.

The actor, who has since divorced Witherspoon and is currently dating Abbie Cornish, tells The Time Magazine: "I fooled myself into believing it would be easier than it was.

“To have people speculating constantly about the state of your relationship, casting aspersions and telling lies ... It took more of a toll than I was immediately aware of."

His daughter Ava has since followed in her daddy’s footsteps. Phillippe adds: "She's aware and it creates in her a lot of anxiety, which is partly my fault.

“When Ava was very young, I was young too. I'd get ... visibly angry at the paparazzi back then. She was my first child, and my instinct was to protect her."

However he has not let it affect son Deacon: "Mainly because since his birth I've realized that you've got to make it seem like less of a big deal.

“Ava to this day, though ... It breaks my heart to think about it, hearing her say, 'My friends at school saw a picture of me in a magazine and they made fun because I was carrying a blanket.'”