Sean Penn has 'great affection' for Madonna

Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn has "great affection" for his former wife Madonna and says the public problems in their marriage were "trivial".

The 54-year-old had an extremely turbulent relationship with Madonna when they were married from 1985 to 1989. They frequently lashed out at photographers and Penn was even arrested for assaulting his then-wife, but he now insists their issue that were public were less important, report femalefirst.co.uk.

"You look back and you say, 'What fire did I walk through that I sought out?'

"This is a fantastic woman, who I have great affection for - Madonna. She had not even toured when we got together. So there was no seeing all that coming. She was a fire, you know? In herself," The Times newspaper quoted Penn as saying.

"Apart from all that stuff that came with it. But in a marriage? At that time in my life? And, you know, you walk through the fires you have to walk through. And I guess she probably would have described me similarly. The fires that were public were all trivial," he added.

Penn is currently dating actress Charlize Theron.