Johnny Depp has confessed his split from Vanessa Paradis was "unpleasant" but said he had been determined to remain strong for the sake of his children.

The 50-year-old Lone Ranger star and the 40-year-old French actress and singer announced last June they were separating after 14 years together. They are parents to Lily-Rose, 14, and Jack, 11.

Speaking about the break-up for the first time, Johnny told Rolling Stone magazine: "The last couple years have been a bit bumpy. At times, certainly unpleasant, but that's the nature of break-ups, I guess, especially when there are kiddies involved.

"Relationships are very difficult. Especially in the racket that I'm in because you're constantly away or they're away and so it's hard. It wasn't easy on her. It wasn't easy on me. It wasn't easy on the kids. So, yeah. The trajectory of that relationship - you play it out until it goes, one thing leads to another.

"So for whatever reason that ceases, it doesn't stop the fact that you care for that person, and they're the mother of your kids, and you'll always know each other, and you're always gonna be in each other's lives because of those kids. You might as well make the best of it."

The former hellraiser - who is thought to have found love again with Amber Heard, 27, his co-star in 2011 film The Rum Diary - told how he had handled the split responsibly for the sake of his children.

He revealed: "In terms of the break-up, I definitely wasn't going to rely on the drink to ease things or cushion the blow or cushion the situation.

"'Cause that could have been fatal. I felt it was my duty to be real clear throughout that. I had something pretty serious to focus on, really, which was making sure that my kids were gonna be cool.

"They've been incredibly understanding, incredibly strong throughout the whole ordeal. And it's hard on every side. You know, Vanessa's side, certainly not easy. My side, not easy. The kids are the most complicated.

"The thing is, kiddies come first. You can't shield them, because then you'd be lying. So you can at least be honest with your kids, and you say the absolute truth to your child - that was very important to not pussyfoot around."