It looks as though Aussie actor Russell Crowe is dating his Les Miserables co-star Samantha Barks. Crowe, 48 and Barks, 22, have been openly Tweeting each other and Crowe’s a big fan of letting his 820,000 Twitter followers about the exercise regime that he often shares with the young actress. According to New Idea magazine, though, this isn’t simply a convenient fitness pairing friendship but is developing into something a little more serious.

One recent Tweet from Crowe read “Work out with @samanthaBarks 4km walk, 30 mins elliptical, 4 min prone hold, shoulder routine, leta, bench, turkish stand” and an onlooker at the Governors’ Ball, after the Oscars, revealed to the magazine that the pair were looking very cosy indeed. “She was continually touching his sleeve, giggling and sitting in awe of his every word, and he was lapping up every moment,” said the source. Russell separated from his wife Danielle Spencer last year; they had been married since 2003 after starting an on-again-off-again relationship back in 1989. They have two children together, Charles and Tennyson.

Crowe has also been using his Twitter page to defend allegations that he and fellow Aussie Natalie Imbruglia are dating. “I am not having an affair with nor am I dating Natalie Imbruglia. She has been a friend for years. No flirting, no whispers, total BULLSHIT,” read the 28 Feb tweet. 

Russell CroweSamantha Barks

Russell Crowe and Samantha Barks are rumoured to be dating