Reese Witherspoon's daughter has inherited her father's depression.

Ryan Phillipe has spoken openly in the past about his battle with depression. And now he’s spoken openly about his fears that his daughter does, too.

Cruel Intentions actor Ryan Phillippe, 40, has revealed he suffers from depression and that his teen daughter, Ava, may suffer from similar mental health issues.

“You know, depression has been a huge obstacle for me ever since I was a child,” 40-year-old Philippe, who now stars in miniseries Secrets and Lies, said in an interview with Elle.com.

“I’m just innately kind of a sad person. I’m empathetic, and I take on the feelings of others and transpose myself into the position of others,” the 40-year-old added.

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“I see it in my daughter [Ava]. She has it, and I wish to hell she didn’t. It’s just, some people do have this pervading sort of sadness, or they’re so analytical that they can kind of take the fun out of things because they think too much.”

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He added: “It can ruin your f——- life.”

Ava, 15, is the oldest of Phillipe and actress ex-wife Reese Witherspoon‘s two children. Phillipe and Wild star Witherspoon, 38, also have an 11-year-old son called Deacon together.

Philippe spoke of his dark sense of humour in the interview.

“I’m way funnier than people know me to be,” he said. “And it’s a dark humor, like a gallows humor.

“I think that’s where, if you do carry any of that sadness or depression, your humor does tend to be a little darker than most people.”

He also commented that he’s managed to find a lighter side to his mental illness.

“If it was a choice between being this way or being completely ignorant I’d prefer to suffer through the sadness than to be a complete moron with no feelings,” he said.

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 The World Health Organization estimates that more than 350 million people struggle with depression worldwide.

One in 16 young Australians is currently experiencing depression, and three in four adult mental health conditions emerge by age 24, according to Beyond Blue.

If you or a loved one need to talk to someone, please consider calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.