Ryan Phillippe has split from his fiancée.

Ryan Phillippe and Paulina Slagter

Ryan Phillippe and Paulina Slagter

The 42-year-old director only popped the question to law school graduate Paulina Slagter last Christmas, but it seems their engagement has been short lived as they've reportedly recently called time on their relationship, according to Us Magazine.

The news of the split will no doubt come as a huge shock to fans as earlier this year he was bragging about his partner.

He said at the time: "She's awesome. When people see her they have these judgments because she could be a model but she's about to graduate Stanford Law.

"Also what's great about it - as you get older certain issues become more important to you. I'm very involved in civil rights issues, and so to be with a woman who could actually make an impact in the legal realm - that's a beautiful thing."

And friends had started to notice a change in the way Ryan, who dated Paulina for five years before they got engaged, behaved and approached life since he started romancing her.

A pal said: "Ryan is madly in love and wants to spend the rest of his life with Paulina. And the feeling is mutual. They are a wonderful couple. Ryan and Paulina are very much in love. She is changing him. He is a better man. Ryan feels Paulina is very intelligent and has opened his mind to equality and civil rights, areas he has never really focused on that intently.

"Being a student at Stanford law is impressive to him, and he is very proud of her. He feels that she has the ability to change the world and make it a better place."

Although they've now gone their separate ways, the 'Catch Hell' star isn't usually one to let the friendship go sour as he's remained close pals with all of his previous partners.

Ryan admitted last year that he's still "very much" friends with Reece Witherspoon, whom he was married to for eight years.

He explained at the time: "I think more of the problem was age. When we got together we were so young. I think it can create issues with two people in this industry because there's so much noise that goes along with it."


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