Thursday, 9 November 2006

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Reese Witherspoon files for divorce

The actress moves to end her marriage to Ryan Phillippe

Reese Witherspoon has filed for divorce from Ryan Phillippe, citing irreconcilable differences, PEOPLE has confirmed. Papers were filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

In the court papers, Witherspoon, 30, asks for joint custody of the couple's two children, Ava, 7, and Deacon, 3. The actress also seeks physical custody of her kids and that Phillippe, 32, be granted visitation rights.

Witherspoon also requests that the court not grant spousal support for Phillippe.

A rep for the couple first announced their separation on Oct. 30.

Though Phillippe hasn't commented on reports that he and Australian actress Abbie Cornis (who costars with him in an upcoming film) had a relationship, he issued an exclusive statement to PEOPLE on Wednesday, saying, “I’m not a perfect person, but I’m not guilty of a lot of the things I have been accused of. My priority is and always has been the health and safety of my family." Reps vehemently deny other allegations of hard partying and drug use.

The couple first met when a mutual friend brought Phillippe to Witherspoon's 21st-birthday party. Two years later, after they had costarred in 1999's Cruel Intentions, he proposed. They married in June 1999 and had Ava three months later.

Witherspoon, who won an Oscar for her role in last year's hit Walk the Line, is next expected to appear in the drama Rendition. Phillippe is currently starring in the WWII drama Flags of Our Fathers.