ETHAN HAWKE - THURMAN EMBARKS ON NEW ROMANCE

ETHAN HAWKE's hopes of winning back estranged wife UMA THURMAN have been dealt a severe blow - the actress has found a new man.

The KILL BILL star is reportedly romancing New York hotelier ANDRE BALAZS, who is a longterm acquaintance, after separating from Hawke in September (03).

Hawke's affair with Canadian model JEN PERZOW on the set of upcoming thriller TAKING LIVES caused Thurman such heartache, her brothers threatened to "kill" the REALITY BITES hunk.

But now Uma - who has two children MAYA and ROAN with Hawke - is said to be resisting her ex's attempts to salvage their marriage.

A source close to Uma says of Balazs, "They've known each other for years, but they just started seeing each other about a month and an half ago. It's very recent, but they seem intense."