The Boogie Nights star dated his Smokey and the Bandit castmate for many years after they first met in the late 1970s, but Field's soaring success drove a wedge between the couple, prompting them to part ways.

The Norma Rae actress went on to marry her second husband, film producer Alan Greisman, in 1984, while Reynolds eventually wed Loni Anderson in 1988. Both relationships ended in divorce.

The actor, who has also romanced a string of Hollywood beauties, including Faye Dunaway, Adrienne Barbeau and Kim Basinger, previously admitted Field was "the one who got away", and the 79 year old continues to "miss her terribly".

"Even now, it's hard on me," he tells America's Vanity Fair magazine. "I don't know why I was so stupid. Men are like that, you know. You find the perfect person, and then you do everything you can to screw it up."

Reynolds claims he has warned every partner about his relationship shortfalls over the years, adding, "(I tell them), 'It's going to be awful sometimes, and I want to warn you', and they say, 'Oh, no... That's not you.' And I say, 'It is me, and I don't want to be that way. I hate that guy. But you're going to see him, and I hope you don't run away from me'.

"They always say, 'I'll be able to handle it,'" he continues. "They can't handle it. And they don't understand what they've done. And it's not them. It's me."

During the candid chat to promote his new memoirs, But Enough About Me, Reynolds also touched on his longtime financial struggles, simply stating, "I trusted the wrong people with my money."

Bad accounting forced him to auction off a number of memorabilia and personal possessions last year (14), while he recently placed his mansion in Florida on the market for $4.9 million (£3 million).

However, he claims his biggest regret was not spending enough of his hard-earned cash.

"I would have spent more money and had a lot more fun," he quips. "It's always possible to spend more money."