Penn changes mind about divorce

US actor Sean Penn has withdrawn his petition to separate from wife Robin Wright Penn, for the second time.

According to records, the Oscar-winning actor filed a request on Thursday to dismiss his legal separation case.

Mystic River star Penn, winner of this year's Academy Award for best actor for Milk, filed for divorce in April citing irreconcilable differences.

The couple, who wed in 1996, previously initiated divorce proceedings in 2007 only to reconcile four months later.

The couple have two children - daughter Dylan Francis, 18, and 15-year-old son Hopper Jack.

Juror

Wright Penn, 42, is currently in southern France serving as a juror at the Cannes Film Festival.

Eyebrows were raised in February when Penn omitted to thank his wife in his Oscar acceptance speech.

The 48-year-old was previously married to pop star Madonna, with whom he co-starred in 1986 film Shanghai Surprise.

Wright Penn's movies include The Princess Bride, Forrest Gump and recent thriller State of Play.

She will soon be seen playing the title role in The Private Lives of Pippa Lee and opposite Jim Carrey in a computer-animated version of A Christmas Carol.