Russell Crowe and Scarlett Johansson are finding it hard-going in the love stakes

Russell Crowe is devastated after splitting from his wife Danielle Spencer.

The Oscar winning star and his musician wife - who have been married for nine years and have two sons Charles, eight, and Tennyson, six, together - are reported to have amicably separated, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The couple has so far refused to comment but friends close to the couple are said to be shocked and the actor is said to be devastated.

Sources are blaming the 'Les Miserables' star's busy schedule for their break-up as back-to-back filming has forced him to spend most of his time overseas while his family remained at their home in Sydney.

The 48-year-old 'Gladiator' star is currently filming his fifth movie this year, the biblical epic 'Noah' in the US, and recently completed filming on the Superman reboot 'Man of Steel'.

He will next be seen on the big screen in 'The Man With The Iron Fists' starring alongside Lucy Liu, which hits cinemas in December, followed later that month by 'Les Miserables'.

The actor is reportedly hoping to keep busy to take his mind off the split and just signed on to star in the new fantasy movie 'Winter's Tale' alongside Will Smith, due to start shooting early next year.

Russell and Danielle (43) first met 22 years ago on the set of the movie 'The Crossing' and were married in a purpose-built chapel at Crowe's farm in Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour in Australia in April, 2003.

Danielle, who appeared on Australia's 'Dancing With The Stars' earlier this year - has often been praised for being a calming influence on her husband.

Crowe once said he and Spencer had a "deep respect" and "mutual understanding" for each other from the first time they met on set. And shortly after their wedding, he revealed: "I've been thinking about it for a long time so I don't have any second thoughts. The thought [of marrying her] crossed my mind the first time I met her."

• Scarlett Johansson, meanwhile, has reportedly split from her latest love Nate Naylor.

The 27-year-old 'Hitchcock' actress - who was once married to Ryan Reynolds - has reportedly dumped the advertising executive just days after she was spotted "completely flirting" with one of Lindsay Lohan's close friends.

A source told the MailOnline: "They never officially lived together, but Nate has moved all of his stuff out and back into his apartment. The relationship is over. It has not been amicable.

"Scarlett began dating 38-year-old Nate last January after meeting him in New York, shortly after her split from 52-year-old actor Sean Penn.

The split follows several reports suggesting the actress was seen flirting with multiple men, including her ex-boyfriend Jared Leto recently.

She appeared to be "completely flirting" with a friend of troubled starlet Lindsay's on Wednesday night (10.10.12).

The 'Avengers Assemble' star was at The Electric Room in New York City, dressed down in a T-shirt and glasses, and one onlooker saw her having plenty of fun with the 'Liz and Dick' star's friend, artist Domingo Zapata. An eyewitness said: "Scarlett looked like she was completely flirting with Domingo."

And last month she was pictured cuddling up to and holding hands with her ex-boyfriend, actor Jared Leto, 40, during a speech at a political rally in North Carolina.

At the time she insisted they were just good friends and her representatives adamantly denied that she and Nate had split.

The actress is allegedly "incredibly bitter" about her ex-husband Ryan's recent marriage to Blake Lively.

The 'Iron Man' star - whose divorce from Ryan was finalised in 2011 after four years together - is said to be convinced he cheated on her with the 'Gossip Girl' star while they were still married and was distraught over the couple's recent nuptials.