Friends star Courteney Cox has quietly separated from her long-term partner, Snow Patrol musician Johnny McDaid, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The A-list couple, who had been together for more than a decade and were briefly engaged, are understood to have gone their separate ways late last year.

The split is said to be entirely amicable, and friends of the couple have told The Mail on Sunday that they had simply reached a point where they were living 'different lives'.

Actress Cox, 62, best known to millions for her iconic role as Monica Geller in 90s sitcom Friends, is based in Los Angeles while Northern Ireland-born McDaid, 49, has been mostly based in London, although the couple had tended to split their time between the US and the UK.

Confirming their separation, a friend said: 'Johnny speaks incredibly highly of Courteney. They had a very deep relationship and they remain extremely amicable. They are great friends and care about each other very much.

'This was not an ugly split. They had simply reached a point where they were living different lives.'

Cox and McDaid, who has become one of the world's most successful behind-the-scenes songwriters, began dating in 2013 after being introduced through mutual friends, including Ed Sheeran. 

McDaid is one of Sheeran's long-time friends and collaborators and co-wrote some of his biggest hits, including Shape Of You, Photograph, Galway Girl, Bad Habits, and Shivers.

He and Cox announced their engagement the following year and, despite briefly separating in late 2015, they reconciled in 2016 and had been together ever since.

Cox has said in interviews that she was 'thankful' for the breakup because it made their relationship even better. McDaid has also spoken of how 'lucky' he felt to be in a relationship with the actress.

The couple were seen last August on a double-date in Malibu, California, with Cox's Friends co-star Jennifer Aniston and her rumoured boyfriend, wellness expert Jim Curtis.

They were last photographed together at the US Open in September.

Since the split, both Cox and McDaid are rumoured to have moved on with their lives.

McDaid is understood to be in the early stages of a new relationship.

Meanwhile, Cox was spotted in New York recently with her Shining Vale co-star Greg Kinnear, who stayed at her apartment. Although they play husband-and-wife in the satirical horror comedy, the pair have confirmed that they are just good friends.

She has also remained close to her ex-husband David Arquette, with whom she shares daughter Coco, and friends say the former couple have long been a strong and amicable co-parenting team.

McDaid, who was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, joined Snow Patrol in 2011 and, aside from Ed Sheeran, has since collaborated with international stars such as Pink, Robbie Williams and Alicia Keys.

Snow Patrol are in the middle of a major summer run of UK headline shows following their international tour and Glastonbury performance last year. The band played Eden Sessions in Cornwall on June 18, Thetford Forest on June 20 and Liverpool's On The Waterfront on June 21.

They will also headline a show at Crystal Palace Park on July 3 alongside Rag 'N' Bone Man, Amy Macdonald and Nieve Ella.

The tour continues with further dates at Edinburgh Castle on July 18 and Splendour Festival in Nottingham on July 19.

Representatives for Cox and McDaid were contacted for comment.