Robin Wright Penn: Why Sean Penn and I Kept Getting Back Together

Feb. 11, 2014 -- If Robin Wright seems more independent these days, it's because she is.

In a new interview with the Telegraph, the "House of Cards" star opens up about feeling more ambitious both personally and professionally.

One reason is because she's finally moved past her "devastating" divorce from actor Sean Penn.

"Divorce in and of itself, and with children, is devastating. Worse than that. One of the reasons why we got back together and broke up so much was trying to keep the family together... and we did that for a long time," said Wright, who has two adult children with Penn. "Sean sees the kids. They see him. They see me. We've all got our own lives."

Inside the Love Lives of Robin Wright, Sean Penn and Their Kids

For Wright, that also means a new fiance, in her "Rampart" co-star Ben Foster. In the interview, the actress revealed that in spite of being "so anti-tattoos," she has a 'B' inked on her left hand ("Ben has an 'R' tattoo in the same place," she said. "This felt right because we're not that traditional!") and that she still finds their engagement to be "surreal."

"But we felt married anyway," she explained. "We've been together ever since the first date."

That date, she said, happened after Foster approached her at the "Rampart" premiere and invited her to a poetry recital.

Robin Wright and Ben Foster Are Engaged!

"I'd never, ever been asked out on a date before," Wright said. "Never. I was frickin' married my whole life, and even before that I hadn't been asked out."

There are other big changes in the actress's life these days. A self-described "late bloomer," Wright said that she's taking on more acting challenges than ever before.

"I used to lie in wait and hope to see what roles would come in. But my new ambition is to go out and find what I want," she said. "I also want to direct more. I totally have the bug now."