Ryan Phillippe was known as teen heartthrob in the busiest part of his acting career, but the actor has been missing from the scene for a while. He has spoken out to explain that this was intentional, as prepares to jump back in the scene through a television new role.

Phillippe will be starring in ABC’s Secrets and Lies, a drama where he plays a prime suspect in the murder of a child. The accusations not only disrupt his character’s life, but that of his wife and children as well.

Phillippe was not specifically looking for a TV show to star in the time, but took the meeting out of interest and found that he could completely relate to some of the sentiments.

“One of the things that made me decide that I wanted to take the job was how uncomfortable I felt reading about what the kids went through as a result of his being accused. It was something I definitely related to, when you have children in public life and what that does to them and how perceptions about you in the press can have an effect on them,” he said.

Phillippe is father to three children, two of whom he had with ex Reese Witherspoon, and one with model Alexis Knapp.

In his time away from the screen, Ryan did not stop working in the business. He co-wrote and directed his own film, is producing a documentary about surfing, and is launching an ecommerce app.

Phillippe spoke to the Post about his transitions.

“The last couple of years I’ve really wanted to challenge myself to try different things. I did my first acting job when I was 17, I just turned 40. Even though I still love acting, I want to try some other stuff,” he said.