Rosie O'Donnell says a "crazy and out of control" relationship taught her how to love.

In an interview with Piers Morgan, the talk show host revealed how a bad breakup helped to open her up.

Rosie is now engaged to Michelle Rounds but says her love life has not always been so great.

"I was properly in love I'd say three times," Rosie revealed, and spoke about a love affair that turned bad when she was younger but that she learned a lot from.

"You have one relationship in your life that's kind of crazy and out of control a little bit. "And that usually doesn't last very long but takes you into the deep water.

"It opened me up. I realised I was capable of risk taking. You have an idealism when you're a kid about what romance and family and forever means.

"I think at 28, 29-years-old, you're ready to step into a mature kind of love, so that's what got me there."

Rosie also revealed that she had a long term relationship with a man once.

"His name's Mike and I lived with him for about two years," she shared but said although he helped mend her childhood wounds, she always knew deep down she was gay.