'She has an incredibly famous mother': Ryan Phillippe credits ex wife Reese Witherspoon for their daughter Ava's Instagram fame

By Sarah Sotoodeh For Dailymail.com

Published: 23:48 EST, 30 December 2016 | Updated: 16:37 EST, 31 December 2016

He has two children with ex wife Reese Witherspoon: Ava and Deacon Phillippe.

And Ryan Phillippe talked about their 17-year-old daughter and her social media fame during an interview with People on Friday.

The 42-year-old actor told the magazine: 'Well she has an incredibly famous mother and a moderately famous father, but that's how that works.'

Devoted: Ryan Phillippe talked about Ava, his 17-year-old daughter wth ex wife Reese Witherspoon and her social media fame during an interview with People on Friday

Ava currently has 230,000 followers on Instagram. 

Ryan told People: 'Also social media is largely driven by the youth and the associations made within that group. She's incredibly talented.' 

The handsome star, who was 24 when he became a father, divulged that having kids who use social media can be tricky. 

Ryan explained to the magazine: 'The danger would be if you had a kid who didn't have perspective and didn't have an understanding of it.'

Joy: The 42-year-old actor said: 'Well she has an incredibly famous mother and a moderately famous father, but that's how that works;' Ryan pictured in February and Ava last month

Adding that: 'I don't feel like our kids are as caught up in the value that some might place on those things. It's a byproduct of the life that they've been born into.' 

The good-looking star, who currently stars on the USA Network show Shooter, said that it's important as a parent to 'stay connected and stay involved and stay aware of what they're doing.' 

Ryan shares a son, Deacon, 13, with his ex Reese; he also has a daughter Kailani, five, with ex girlfriend Alexis Knapp.

Smiles all around: Reese is married to agent Jim Toth; they have a four-year-old son named Tennessee James; Ava pictured with mom Reese, stepdad Jim and brothers Deacon and Tennessee at the Sing premiere in early December

Mother and daughter duo: Ava, who is the spitting image of mom Reese, often posts artistic pictures of landscapes and stunning photos of nature.

Ryan and Reese married in 1999 and divorced eight years later in 2007.

Reese is married to agent Jim Toth; they have a four-year-old son named Tennessee James.

Ava, who is the spitting image of mom Reese, often posts artistic pictures of landscapes and stunning photos of nature. 

What a great photo! Ava shared a picture of her dad last year in honor of Father's Day; she gushed about him in the caption, saying that she's 's lucky to have a dad like you'

She also shares her drawings, snaps of her brothers Deacon and Tennessee, and a handful of selfies or posing with friends. 

Ava shared a picture of her dad last year in honor of Father's Day to her Instagram; she gushed about him in the caption, saying that she's 's lucky to have a dad like you.'

The teenager also posted a sweet baby photo of herself with her dad Ryan in honor of throwback Thursday. 

Doting: The teenager also posted a sweet baby photo of herself with her dad Ryan in honor of throwback Thursday

Ryan recently talked to People about his struggles with depression when he was younger, revealing that he is 'a lot more at peace' now. 

He struggled with depression in his 20s and 30s, but he said he's found ways to cope, including being more careful about the choices he makes and also just breathing.

He also took a step back from acting to focus on his kids during that time.

'Now Ava and Deacon are teenagers, so the pressure and the guilt have decreased some. I’m really enjoying acting again, which is nice!' 

Staying close: Ava posted a picture of her younger brother Deacon with their dad Ryan to her Instagram page as well

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