LIV TYLER - LIV TYLER AND MUSICIAN HUSBAND ROYSTON LANGDON TO SEPARATE

Liv Tyler and her husband Royston Langdon are to separate, it has been announced.

The Lord of the Rings star married the British musician in 2003 in a private ceremony in the Caribbean.

Tyler, 30, and Langdon, 36, have a son, Milo, who was born in December 2004.

But a statement from Tyler's representative has revealed the couple are to separate after five years of marriage.

"Liv Tyler and Royston Langdon have confirmed their separation," the statement for People magazine read.

"They remain good friends and devoted parents to their son Milo and are requesting that their family's privacy be respected at this time."

Rumours of the couple experiencing marital problems were fuelled this week when Tyler was photographed at the Metropolitan Costume Institute Gala in New York City without her wedding ring.

She can next be seen in The Incredible Hulk, taking over from Jennifer Connelly as Betty Ross, the love interest for Bruce Banner, the human face of the Hulk.

In a recent interview with USA Today, the actress explained that the role of women in comic book films has changed, inspiring her to take to the screen alongside Edward Norton in Louis Leterrier's film.

"In all these films, our characters have real jobs and really fall in love and have real dilemmas", she explained.

"When you look at the history of the comic books, the women also have changed."