Michelle Williams has found love again with director Spike Jonze seven months after the tragic death of her former fiancé Heath Ledger.

The pair boarded a private jet bound for Oregon yesterday along with the Brokeback Mountain actress's two-year-old daughter Matilda.

The trio were seen strolling together outside the airport, Williams at one point breaking into a broad smile.

New love: Michelle Williams with director Spike Jonze and her daughter Matilda headed off to Oregon yesterday

Williams and Jonze, who previously dated Drew Barrymore, first met in 2006 when she auditioned for his film adaptation of the Maurice Sendak children's book Where The Wild Things Are.

She was offered a part, but later withdrew from the film.

But last year, the pair finally worked together on Synecdoche, New York in summer 2007 and struck up a friendship.

During their time on the movie - which Jonze produced - Williams was still dating Ledger.

A source told Mail Online: 'For the first time in two years, Michelle and Spike are both single, and because of the friendship they first developed in 2006, they have come together. 

Smiling again: Michelle's friendship with Jonze has now blossomed into romance

Heartbroken: The actress was left devastated after the death of her former fiancé Heath Ledger

'Having been friends first, they totally got to know each other first, without romance getting in the way, and Spike has been very supportive during this most difficult time for Michelle.'

Williams was left devastated after Ledger died of an accidental drug overdose in January, and the source says she could not bring herself to consider a new romance.

She said at the time: 'My heart is broken. All that I can cling to is his presence inside that reveals itself every day.'

But her friendship with Jonze has steadily blossomed into romance in recent weeks.

The source continued: 'Matilda means the world to Michelle, who is now left alone to raise her daughter. And Spike, who has no children of his own, has been very good to both Michelle and Matilda.

'Spike had a gentle way of just being there for Michelle. There was no pressure for her to spend time with him – he just wanted to be a loving, supportive shoulder for Michelle to cry on.

'And his patience and kindness caused Michelle to look at him in a different light.  Now the two are spending more time together, and their one-time friendship has developed into more.

'Michelle loves Spike's quirky sense of humour and his brilliant talent. And he adores her soft, feminine demeanour, and he is in awe of the way she parents her daughter.

'This could certainly prove to be the right match for them both.'