Guy Ritchie says he still loves "retarded" Madonna.

The British film director has deep feelings for his ex-wife - who he split from last year after almost eight years of marriage - and admits he has found the separation extremely difficult.

He said: "Here you go: I still love her. Of course, but she's retarded, too.

"You can't tell someone when they're getting divorced that their pain is an illusion. I'm f***ing telling you, I feel it. I've been through that... No one can say you don't feel that."

The 41-year-old star - who raises three children with Madonna - also hugely admires the 51-year-old singer's work ethic.

He added to Esquire magazine: "She's a manifester, if there ever was one. First-rate manifester. Madonna makes things happen. Put Madonna up against any 23-year-old, she'll outwork them, outdance them and outperform them."

Guy insists he never thought of her as a superstar when they were together, because to him she was just the woman he was in love with.

Discussing their decision to live in London, Guy revealed: "Madonna, when she came to the UK, it was old-school London. No one bothered her. 'Hello, darling. How are you, darling? What can we get you?' It was fundamental, old-school. It didn't matter who she was. She was my wife."