The world already knows they are an item, but despite photographic evidence of Sienna Miller and married Balthazar Getty's relationship the couple still insist on playing it cool.

So cool in fact that blonde Ms Miller does her best to avoid any public contact with Getty for fear of being photographed.

The couple, who have faced a barrage of criticism over their relationship, were snapped as they left an LA pharmacy walking closely together.

But Ms Miller soon wised up to the presence of waiting media and deliberately walked as far apart from her lover as possible.

Sienna Miller walks apart from her married lover Balthazar Getty in a show of untogetherness after spotting waiting media

They were spotted getting into a car together and drove into a private gated community.

Their show of 'untogetherness' comes after the actress lashed out at critics over her romance with the married father-of-four.

Just days earlier, they enjoyed a very public show of togetherness as they shopped in upmarket boutiques in the exclusive Los Angeles coastal suburb of Malibu this week.

They spent an hour buying the actress clothes and as they relaxed with a coffee afterwards, Balthazar planted a loving kiss on her forehead.

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Together again: Sienna Miller and Balthazar Getty on a shopping trip in Malibu this week

But friends close to the star have come out in her defence, claiming her relationship with the oil heir began several months after he had secretly split from his wife Rosetta at the end of last year.

Despite reports Balthazar is desperate to reconcile with his wife, sources are also adamant he and Sienna are still an item.

An insider told the New York Post's gossip column Page Six: 'Sienna and he are in love. They are living together in LA. Everyone knows about her and accepts her.

Going strong: Friends say Sienna, pictured in Los Angeles this week, has moved in with Balthazar

Ex: Rosetta, without her wedding ring, and daughter June Catherine earlier this month

'She and Balthazar met through friends and he was already separated from his wife.

'He should have announced his separation a lot earlier than he did - he'd been sleeping on friends' couches for six months.

'She was always told he was separated.' 

This is not the first time that Miss Miller has dated a married man.

But friends insist she has learnt her lesson.

'There's no way she would ever get involved with another married man after Jude.'

In July, Getty was pictured kissing a topless Sienna on a yacht off Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

They had reportedly been seeing each other since May, soon after Sienna split from Rhys Ifans.

The source, apparently eager to mend the Factory Girl star's 'home wrecker' reputation, added: 'It's just annoying that all this misinformation is out there.'