What really went wrong between Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts

First Brad and Ange, now Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts. When will the madness end?

Here at the Be team, there's was a collective cry of WTF the minute news broke that Naomi (one of our fave Aussies!) and Liev had decided to end their 11 year relationship.

But while the couple might have publically come across as being rock steady, their recent quotes and behaviour hint at an entirely different situation behind closed doors.

Indeed, just last March, Naomi, 47, gave a candid interview to LA Confidential in which she admitted their relationship, which started in 2005, was tough going.

"Relationships are hard whether you're famous or not," she said. "I don't know anyone who doesn't have to work on it. Being an actor doesn't change anything."

More recently, Liev opened up about finding it difficult working in LA with family based in New York.

"It's hard on me most, I think," he said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in June. "You have to put them first at a certain point, and the back-and-forth thing can get tough."

But major signs of trouble first surfaced back in 2011, when Liev was forced to deny rumours that he'd had an affair with Australian model Phoebe Roberts.

US website The Dirty claimed Liev cheated on Naomi with Phoebe after they met on set of the film Mental.

The actor's rep called the allegations a "complete fabrication" and Phoebe defended the actor: "I did not and am not having a sexual relationship with Liev Schreiber. We have a professional relationship. We worked together on a film and nothing inappropriate occurred between us.

Although they have never been married, the pair have two sons together, eight-year-old Alexander 'Sasha' and seven-year-old Samuel.

Tellingly, it wasn't Naomi by Liev's side when he attended the Emmy Awards earlier this month - it was their son Sasha who went as his date.

Earlier today Naomi's rep confirmed the pair were splitting after over a decade together.

"Over the past few months we’ve come to the conclusion that the best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple," they said in a joint statement.

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The continued: "It is with great love, respect, and friendship in our hearts that we look forward to raising our children together and exploring this new phase of our relationship.

"While we appreciate your curiosity and support, we ask the press to be mindful of our children and respect their right to privacy."

The last public appearance by the pair was for the premiere of their new movie The Bleeder at the Toronto Film Festival.

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