Stone splits from husband

Sharon Stone has split from her husband after five years of marriage. The Basic Instinct star is said to have decided to separate from newspaper editor Phil Bronstein after finishing filming A Different Loyalty in London, in which she plays the wife of British traitor Kim Philby.

A spokesman for the 44-yearold actress refused to comment on the split, but confirmed the couple are living apart.

There had been rumours for several weeks that the marriage was in difficulties. Stone is living in the couple's Los Angeles house while Bronstein, editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, has moved into a home they own in that city.

The couple were married on St Valentine's Day in 1998. Three years ago they adopted a baby son, Roan. Their marriage was filled with drama, with Bronstein having a heart attack in their first year.

Two years ago the actress arranged a Father's Day visit to San Francisco zoo, where her husband was bitten on the foot by a poisonous 7ft komodo dragon and needed surgery for a tendon injury.

In the same year Stone collapsed and almost died after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Earlier this year she said the experience had curbed her temper, saying: "I am now the calmest person you have ever met. Phil's probably thinking, 'I married this tempestuous woman and now where is she?'"