Although a relationship ending can cause just as much emotional pain as a marriage split, it makes for a much cleaner break than a divorce. Compare the Diaz-Timberlake and Cruz-Matt McConaughey splits to the ugly publicity of the Britney and Fed-Ex and Simpson-Lachey divorces, not to mention the McCartney-Mills furore.

While marriage might now be passe, it's not dead altogether. Even hardcore singleton Johansson admits: "I think marriage is a very romantic idea. Some day when I decide I would like to have children with somebody, I think it would be nice to be married."

Stars pairing off with stars is a fairytale for publicity but it often ends up in the divorce courts. When celebrities do finally decide to settle down, their best bet is to propose to someone outside the biz or behind the camera.

Matt Damon's marriage to Florida barmaid Luciana Barroso seems solid, likewise Batman And Robin's Chris O'Donnell's to schoolteacher Caroline Fentress. Julia Roberts finally found happiness after a few false starts when she married cameraman Daniel Moder.

Kate Winslet has found true love with director Sam Mendes, Brooke Shields with scriptwriter Chris Henchy and Rob Lowe with make-up artist Sheryl Berkoff.

Even Madonna seems to have settled down with director Guy Ritchie now she's no longer competing for the spotlight with previous hubby Sean Penn.

"Going on tour or on a film set and then coming home to someone who has been making play-doh shapes with kids in class has to be very grounding," adds Dr Morrissey. "You can see immediately why that kind of marriage works.

"Being in a relationship with someone you're not in competition with is definitely a good move. There's usually only room for one ego in a household."

"But there's still very much a place for marriage with celebrities," says Australian public relations guru, Max Markson. "There is no better publicity than a wedding.

"And it doesn't matter if it doesn't work out, whether it's just a relationship ending or a full-on divorce - the press release is always the same: 'They are still very close friends.' It's just that a divorce is more expensive . . ."

1

2

3