Jennifer Love Hewitt: "Breakups Are Awful" Plus: Video of Her Sexy Maxim Shoot

Jennifer Love Hewitt says breaking up with her fiancé was "really painful," but adds that after breakups "the universe always brings you something really beautiful and great afterward" — in this case, her new boyfriend, Jamie Kennedy.

Hewitt said on Wednesday's Ellen that breakups always "suck on lots of levels" — including her break-up with Scottish actor Ross McCall.

She also said she and Kennedy, who recently made their first public appearance as a couple, were friends first.

"Yeah, we've been friends for a long time. I've heard about it — about being friends with somebody and it turns into something else. And I've never really done that before, and it's been great," said Hewitt. "I knew he was funny. I knew he was special. I knew he was a really nice guy and decent person. I just never really looked at him until a little while ago."

Hewitt has also been busy striking seductive poses for her third Maxim cover. Go behind the scenes of the shoot for a sneak peek of her steamy photos.