A new love blooms for Orlando. . . it's Kirsten

It had taken more than a year for the romance to develop as Orlando, 29, was still dating Superman star Kate Bosworth, 23, and Kirsten was in an on/off relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal.

They became good friends on the set of the film, made in Kentucky, but at the time Kirsten, 24, denied any romance, saying: "If you're alluding to whether Orlando and I got together then that's a no. No."

But last week they were spotted all over each other in Los Angeles hotel Chateau Marmont. We're told: "Kate and Orlando are definitely more than just good friends now.

"They were kissing and cuddling in the corner of the lobby bar and didn't seem to care who saw them. They even stayed past closing time because they were enjoying each other's company."

The Chateau Marmont is not the place to go if you want to keep a blossoming romance under wraps, one source tells us, adding: "It's like coming out without actually issuing a statement."

Kirsten has confessed she understands why actors are tempted to romance their co-stars, saying: "There are a lot of charismatic people in this industry and I can understand why people on location get together."

Orlando and Kate broke up in September after a rather tempestuous four years. A close pal of Orlando tells us: "Kirsten reminds him of what Kate used to look like before her dramatic weight loss.

"It was so much fun for him to be with her because she seemed carefree and not obsessed about fattening foods. Kirsten can also let her hair down a bit and isn't worried about being the most fashionable girl in the room.

"Orlando likes that she can look a bit dishevelled, he thinks it's sexy. Kate would never go out unless she looked perfectly coiffed and that got a bit tiring." Let's hope this is the beginning of a beautiful courtship.