DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES - MARCIA CROSS ENGAGED

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES star MARCIA CROSS has announced that she and her stockbroker beau TOM MAHONEY are engaged.

The redhead actress, 43, accepted 47-year-old Mahoney's proposal last weekend (12-14AUG05), according to her publicist, HEIDI SLAN.

Slan says, "The happy couple have not set a date for the wedding yet."

It will be the first marriage for both.

Earlier this year (05), Cross vehemently denied rumours that she's gay, following internet reports claiming that one of the Desperate Housewives stars was planning to come out of the closet.

At the time, she said, "It's very odd and I assume this is what comes of being 42 and single. I don't know if they just needed to find a reason why I wasn't married... I mean, I'm not (a lesbian)."