Sean Penn’ Christmas present: divorce papers

Sean Penn's long-held reputation as one of Hollywood's most difficult men has not been improved by the news that his gorgeous wife, the actress Robin Wright Penn, filed for divorce a few days before Christmas, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple, who have been together since 1991 and married for 11 years, are seeking joint custody of their two teenage children.

The Penns met while Sean was filming the 1990 mob movie State of Grace. At the time, he was best known for having married and divorced Madonna and for getting into fights with photographers. But Robin said she and her husband complemented each other. "He helped me to believe that I could be strong and stand up for myself," she once told the Los Angeles Times.

During their marriage, Sean Penn become as well known for directing as acting. He cast her in two of his best films, The Crossing Guard and The Pledge, both times opposite Jack Nicholson. (Continued below)

It turns out Robin Wright Penn went to court in northern California, where the couple chose to live rather than Los Angeles, the day after Sean Penn's latest directorial effort Into the Wild received four nominations in the Screen Actors Guild awards, making it a serious contender in February's Oscars. New York newspaper reports claim her husband has been seen in the company of several women in recent months, including Helena Christensen, Sienna Miller and even Paris Hilton.