Ryan Phillippe ahas split from his fiancee after a 10-month engagement. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for POP & SUKI

The actor and law school graduate were engaged last Christmas after five years together.

Ryan Phillippe and Australian actress Abbie Cornish were together for four years. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP

Ryan Phillippe and Paulina Slagter became engaged earlier this year. Picture: Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesSource:Supplied

The breakup comes as a surprise as Phillippe has often gushed about Slagter in interviews.

“When people see her they have these judgments because she could be a model but she’s about to graduate Stanford Law,” he said earlier this year.

“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.”

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippesplit in 2007. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Limited

The actor was previously married to Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, with whom he has two children, Ava, 17, and Deacon, 13.

The actor also has a child with ex-girlfriend Alexis Knapp and was previously in a relationship with Australian actress Abbie Cornish for four years.

Friends had spoken about how Slagter had changed Phillippe for the better, “opening his mind to equality and civil rights, areas he has never really focused on that intently.”

Reese Witherspoon with children Ava and Deacon. Picture: Steve Granitz/WireImageSource:Getty Images

Ryan Phillippe, Paulina Slagter, Reese Witherspoon and her husband Jim Toth watched on as Deacon Phillippe played football in Los Angeles. Picture: Splash NewsSource:Supplied

Phillippe has spoken about remaining friends with his former partners, particularly ex-wife Witherspoon, whom he was married to for eight years before the couple split in 2007.

Of their split, he has said: “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.”

Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon (with Sarah Michelle Gellar) met on the set of Cruel Intentions in 1999. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied