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Paul Rudd's marriage inspired movie

Dec 29, 2012, 4:01 GMT

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd's marriage provided inspiration for 'This Is 40'.

The actor and his wife Julie Yaeger are close friends with the movie's writer and director Judd Apatow and his spouse Leslie Mann and Paul believes his pal used him as inspiration for his character.

He said: 'My wife and I have had many dinners with Judd over the years. So there are aspects of my character that are very much part of me.'

Paul stars with Leslie in 'This Is 40' and says she is like a sister to him.

He said: 'I adore Leslie and we are great friends - brother and sister is not that far off from a description of our relationship or husband and wife who've been married a long time.'

And the actor has previously admitted he became convinced Leslie 'hated' him when they filmed an argument scene for Judd's film 'Knocked Up'.

He said: 'She's so good and gets so intense and into it that I remember thinking the next day 'She hates me, she totally hates me.'

However, after Paul revealed his insecurity to another castmember Leslie reassured him.

He explained: 'She said, 'I don't hate you at all, I hate Judd.' '