Ever since the news broke last month that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are soon to be divorced, tabloid speculation has raged over how Jennifer Aniston is coping with the news.

Lest we forget, that’s the same Jennifer Aniston who hasn’t been married to Pitt since 2005; who has, since their divorce was finalised, had several other long-term relationships; and who is now happily married to her partner of five years, Justin Theroux. So, yeah – we imagine she’s probably doing alright.

But imagine how irritating it must be for everyone to think you’re still pining over your ex. Imagine having to rise above similar moronic assumptions for more than a decade. In that context, the fact that Aniston hasn’t ever gone completely berserk is commendable. (But of course, if she was to ever lose her cool, she’d instantly be painted in the press as a madwoman – so really, she’s stuck between a rock and a hard place.)

Now, in a new interview, Justin Theroux has expressed his admiration for his “badass” wife’s ability to rise above tabloid speculation about her personal life – particularly in the wake of the Brangelina split. 

“She has lived through a lot of bullshit,” he told the Sunday Times Magazine. “Many people would have crumbled under some of the stresses that have been put on her. I’m very proud of her for that, for the way she handles herself.”

Theroux, 45, told the Times said that he has no problem with being referred to as “Mr Jennifer Aniston”, and added that the couple were generally able to rise above media scrutiny.

“Well, you feel protective, of course,” he said. “[But] she’s similar to me – she doesn’t pay attention to it unless she has to.”

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The actor, screenwriter and director – who, all things considered, seems like quite a nice chap – has previously stated that his sympathy ultimately lies with Pitt and Jolie’s six children.

“As a child of divorce, all I can say is, that’s terrible news for those children and that's all you can really say,” he told Business Insider in September. “It's boring to comment on anything else. People are having a bad time – that's horrible.”

Aniston and Theroux were married in a secret ceremony in August 2015, after four years of dating, and Aniston has previously spoken of her own admiration for her husband. 

“Married life is so normal and fun and not much different. We felt married for so long," she told Harper's Bazaar in March. “I'm lucky because Justin is the funniest person I've met, and we make each other laugh. Laughter is one of the great keys to staying youthful.”

Images: Rex Features