James Marsden takes his new girlfriend with him when he goes on holiday with his ex-wife.
The 44-year-old actor split from his spouse Lisa Linde – with whom he has children; Jack, 17, and Mary, 12 – in 2011 after over a decade of marriage and although he found the divorce heartbreaking, they now get on very well and he is able to take his new lover Edei, whose real name is Emma Deigman, with him when they go on a trip.
Speaking to Men’s Health magazine, he said: "I’m very lucky. Someone on the outside looking in is like what is this weird, hippie-dippy commune?
"When you have people who care about each other and care about these kids and just want to give love, how can you not welcome that?"
And, although the divorce knocked James’ "equilibrium" for a little while afterwards, he believes their break up was necessary because it made him grow as a person.
He explained: "It was by far the hardest thing. I love her. I did say to myself, ‘Oh my god, am I repeating what my parents did?’ You know, you don’t want to feel like it’s a failure. It’s sad and heartbreaking. But this time I went through it and didn’t avoid it, like my parents’ divorce, and that’s vital too. I was separating not only from my wife but also my kids and the bonds of home and family. Those are things you’re painfully reminded of every day. It’s like, shit, what lesson is this? What’s to come from this?"
Though their lives have now taken them on different paths, James believes he owes a lot to Lisa because she taught him how to be a father.
He said: "A lot of sh*t went well for me my whole life and came easy to me. Being a white male, you’re born with certain unearned privileges.
"My life hasn’t been filled with sorrow and deep struggle. When the divorce happened, it was the first time I felt I lost my equilibrium.
"It was scary and sad and made me pull everything into focus. I needed to focus on what was important. So that’s who I am now because of that. I know regrets can be catalysts for good things. Not to talk like a Hallmark card, but it’s true."
James also has five-year-old son William with model Rose Costa.
James Marsden holidays with ex-wife and new girlfriend
