Chris, I had a year of separation before uncoupling: Paltrow

Los Angeles: 'Iron Man' actress Gwyneth Paltrow has said she and estranged husband Chris Martin went through a year of quiet separation before making their split public in 2014.

The 42-year-old actress and Martin began drifting away, when she was filming 'Mortdecai' in 2012, and asked co-star Johnny Depp for break-up advice, reported Aceshowbiz.

"Nobody knew what Chris and I had been going through, so I didn't say 'Hey, this is what's happening.' But I did ask him mostly children-centric questions, like 'How is it on them? How did you do it?'" she said.

At that time, Depp had just split from his longtime love Vanessa Paradis. Paltrow and the 37-year-old Coldplay singer, who are parents to two kids Apple and Moses, have remained amicable exes since splitting in March 2014.

Since then the actress has been linked to 'Glee' co-creator Brad Falchuk while Martin is said to have been dating actress Jennifer Lawrence.