(BANG) -Courteney Cox Arquette couldn't have coped with turning 40 if she wasn't married. The former 'Friends' star says her spouse David Arquette and the couple's five-year-old daughter Coco have made it easier for her to deal with ageing.

The 45-year-old beauty said: "When I turned 40, I was laying in bed with my daughter Coco. I just had her two days before, so I actually was going, 'Oh, my God, how am I going to give this back to someone?!' Being 40 I think is hard for women, but I didn't experience it until later.

"Getting older is harder anyway, but living in Hollywood is exceptionally hard. It would be really scary if I wasn't married and I had to go back out there again. And it is true that most men date women that are younger."

David is seven years younger than Courteney and the actress finds it flattering she has a toy boy.

She said: "I do see the appeal of the age gap. Why not go for a younger guy? I think it's empowering for women to know that there are a lot of men who find older women very attractive and love the experience and knowledge that they can bring to the table."

(C) BANG Media International