'Cloud Atlas' actress Susan Sarandon was shocked by her sudden split from 'Shawshank Redemption' actor Tim Robbins. The couple were partnered from 1988 until their sudden split in 2009, having two sons in the process - Jack and Miles. The split came as part of what Robbins described as his "mid-life crisis", and led to 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show Actress' being devastated and having to lean on her friends to help her through. 

Related: Susan Sarandon Plays Small Town Cop In Murder Mystery 'The Calling' [Trailer]

In an interview with 'The Daily Mail' newspaper, Sarandon explained that: ''I didn't think it would ever happen. You need your girlfriends. You need to take long walks until you're exhausted and no longer crying out and you hold on until a new dawn.'' The 66-year-old actress later began dating 36-year-old Jonathan Bricklin, an entrepreneur.

Sarandon had trouble moving on from the 54-year-old Robbins, and explained that: ''[It was] exciting and simultaneously terrifying because there are certain comforts you take for granted in long-term relationships. Even though in my business I meet lots of people, you think of yourself differently when you're on the market than when you're not. So, yes, I'd be lying if I said it was an easy transition.''

Related: Tim Robbins' Life of Crime Movie Review

The 'Thelma & Louise' actress also has a daughter with filmmaker Franco Amurri ('Monkey Trouble'), and admitted that her children found it difficult to adjust to their mother dating again. She stated that: ''You know how your kids think you came into existence when they did? When I started having more freedom and going out more, they were a little concerned. One said, 'I'm not sure who you are any more.' I said, 'I'm the person I was before you came along.'''