Robin Wright, who has mostly remained tight-lipped about her erstwhile marriage to Sean Penn, opened up about what she learned from the relationship that’s allowed her to have a more fulfilling one with fiancé Ben Foster.

Robin Wright On Sean Penn

Wright was married to Penn, with whom she has children Dylan Penn, 23, and Hopper Jack Penn, 21, for 14 years, making questions about their relationship par for the course for in depth interviews. Initially, Wright was hesitant about delving into the relationship that featured prominently in the better part of her adult life.

“I’m not in the business of talking about what ‘isn’t.’ My eyes are set forward and I’ve never been happier,” she wrote in an email to Vanity Fair. “I have too much respect for Sean and our two extraordinary children to sell our past joys and woes for public consumption and fodder.”

Later on, over the phone, Wright provided a bit of insight into how her time with Penn, which began in her early twenties evolved, and how it shaped her. “I grew up very fast as a young girl, but I grew slowly into my womanhood. We were learning as we were going along,” she said. “We agreed as parents that we’d not work at the same time, so that one of us was always with the kids. We got along great as creative people.”

“I believe we were together not only to have our beautiful children but to learn how to love…for the next time around, the right way,” Wright says of her and Penn, who officially divorced in 2010 after a number of separations over the years. “And then, what I’m looking for in people now, is kindness.”

Now, Wright, 48, is happily engaged to Lone Survivor actor Foster. Though the two briefly called off their engagement, Wright spoke effusively about the love she shares with the 34-year-old actor.

“I’ve never been happier in my life than I am today. Perhaps it’s not ladylike [to say], but I’ve never laughed more, read more, or come more than with Ben,” Wright said. “He inspires me to be the best of myself. There’s so much to learn. It’s endless. How great! It took me a long time to grow up. Love is possible as life is possible.”

“I feel as though I’ve just graduated. I mean, I never went to college. I was pregnant at 23. You hear people say how they have ‘arrived,’ but it was just always there, waiting to come out,” Wright continued. “For me, it just took a long time. I’m 48. I’m finally a person. I think I’m finally ready.”

Wright currently stars on Netflix original series House of Cards as First Lady Claire Underwood. She’ll next appear in the adventure thriller Everest with Keira Knightley and Jake Gyllenhaal.