Reese Witherspoon has officially filed for divorce from Ryan Phillippe

Story: Splash news

REESE Witherspoon has officially filed for divorce from her husband of seven years Ryan Phillippe.

The actress - who is now Hollywood's highest paid actress - is seeking sole physical custody of the children and joint legal custody over their two children.

But she has asked a judge to give Phillippe visitation rights to Ava, seven, and Deacon, three.

She cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the break-up of the marriage.

The filing came on the same day as Phillippe issued a public statement defending his reputation after numerous tabloid magazine reported he had been unfaithful to Reese during their marriage.

Star Magazine claimed this week that he had strayed with his co-star in the upcoming film Stop-Loss.

The magazine said alleged he was seen canoodling with 24-year-old stunner Abbie Cornish at a sushi bar and had affairs with many other women during the marriage.

On Wednesday Phillippe said he had not done the things he has been accused of.

In her papers, Witherspoon asks judges to grant her exclsive use of the family's fabulous Bel Air mansion.

She also asks judges not to grant Phillippe spousal support.

Witherspoon can currently command $29m a movie and this year won Best Actress for Walk The Line.

The couple had not signed a pre-nuptial agreement when they married in 1999. It is estimated that while Reese has a fortune of $110m, Phillippe's is just $5m.

She has hired Jennifer Aniston's lawyer Robert Kaufman to protect her assets in the split.