"I guess I was lucky because it was love that brought me here, not work," the Australian-born actress tells the September issue of W magazine.
"I think the city feels and looks a little bit different because of that," continues Cornish, who next stars in drama Bright Star (out this October).
Still, Cornish says she's not engaged to Phillippe, whom she met on the set of war flick Stop-Loss. When asked if they'll wed one day, she admits, "I don't know [if we have plans in that direction]."
Cornish also opens up about taking the blame for splitting up Phillippe and Witherspoon's marriage in 2006 -- and the media coverage surrounding the relationship triangle.
"It was a really difficult time for me," she says. "In a normal, successful career, someone usually learns these things bit by bit. For me, it was like night and day. I woke up one day and there was this whole new thing I had to process and deal with."
Source: US!