(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Ryan Phillippe struggled to understand the actions of his combat photographer character in The Bang Bang Club because he is a sensitive person.

The 36-year-old American actor has enjoyed a varied career, and one of his most recent roles was portraying award-winning photojournalist Greg Marinovich, a drama based on real experiences of photographers capturing images of the South African Apartheid as it came to an end in the 1990s.

While preparing for the part Ryan found it hard to comprehend the notion that photojournalists must not get involved when they see somebody in danger, instead remaining as observers.

Ryan is father to 11-year-old Ava and seven-year-old Deacon, his two children with ex-wife Reese Witherspoon, and thinks being a parent has increased his sensitivity.

From a personal aspect that was something I did struggle with because I cannot imagine, as a father and as a sensitive person, not getting involved or taking some sort of action. That was sort of a difficult thing for me to understand psychologically, he told British newspaper The Independent.

That was definitely the hardest part for me, to understand how you could just let something happen. I can't imagine just being able to stand back but I guess it's just part of the job.

That isnt to say Ryan didnt have an immense amount of respect for Greg and war photographer Joo Silva who is played by Neels Van Jaarsveld in the film. Ryan especially admired the two mens sense of adventure.

"I had the luxury of spending time with Greg Marinovich, who I play in the movie, and Joo Silva, and they are something that pricked my interest in the film originally thrill seekers. They are adrenaline junkies, who put themselves in positions that no other rational person would put themselves in. That aspect was really interesting to me; you know, their blind commitment to their job, he added. (C) Cover Media