Paltrow wanted to stay together with Martin

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is "proud" of how she and Chris Martin have handled their split but sometimes thinks it would have been "better" for them to stay married.

The "Iron Man" actress, who split from the Coldplay frontman in March 2014 after nine years of marriage, has admitted in the new issue of Britain's Harper's Bazaar magazine that it may have been "better" to stay together for the sake of their children, Apple, and Moses, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"We've made a lot of mistakes, and we've had good days and bad days, but I have to say, I'm proud of us for working through so much stuff together - and not blaming and shaming," said the 42-year-old.

"Of course, there are times when I think it would have been better if we had stayed married, which is always what your children want. But we have been able to solidify this friendship, so that we're really close," she added.

Paltrow also admitted it would have been "easier" not to have tried to retain a friendship with Martin but they did what was best for their kids.

She said: "It's painful, it's difficult, it might be easier to say, 'I never want to see you again', but what good does that do anyone?"