For the first time since their highly publicised break-up back in February, actor Justin Theroux has poured his heart out about the "heartbreaking split" from Friends star Jennifer Aniston.

Justin insists that it was an amicable separation and that they remain (pun unavoidable here) good friends.

In a new interview with the New York Times, he says: "The good news is that was probably the most -- I'm choosing my words really carefully -- it was kind of the most gentle separation, in that there was no animosity.

"In a weird way, just sort of navigating the inevitable perception of it is the exhausting part."

He added: "Neither one of us is dead, neither one of us is looking to throw hatchets at each other. It's more like, it's amicable. It's boring, but, you know, we respected each other enough that it was as painless as it could be.

It was "heartbreaking", he adds, but "only in the sense that the friendship would not be the same, as far as just the day to day. But the friendship is shifting and changing, you know, so that part is something that we're both very proud of."

#JustinTheroux finally breaks his silence on divorce from #JenniferAniston: https://t.co/Jn6ldkYexn

— InStyle (@InStyle) September 23, 2018

After four years of dating, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux had tied the knot in August 2015. At the time of their separation earlier this year, the couple released a joint statement in which they stated: "In an effort to reduce any further speculation, we have decided to announce our separation. This decision was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year. We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple, but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship."