Nixon opens up about lesbian lover

Cynthia Nixon has spoken about her romance with partner Christine Marinoni, insisting that she is "in love".

The Sex And The City actress, who usually keeps her private life close to her chest, described the four-year relationship as "fantastic".

She is quoted as saying: "We shop and cook and raise children... We both pitch in. I'm in love with her because she's her. If she were a man, would I be in love with her? I don't know."

Nixon began dating the education activist in 2003 after ending her 15-year relationship with Danny Mozes, the father of her two children.

She and Marinoni now raise Samantha, 11, and six-year-old Charles together in Brooklyn.

Talking about their initial reaction to her female lover, she said: "They were fine. My son was very little [when it happened], but my daughter has a gay uncle [and her godmothers] are lesbians."