New Zealand actor Russell Crowe has been caught up in the marriage breakup of Meg Ryan, Hollywood's sweetheart.
Ryan, star of Sleepless in Seattle, is separating from her husband of nearly 10 years, Dennis Quaid. Their marriage was considered one of the strongest in Hollywood.
The announcement by Ryan followed speculation in
the British press about her friendship with Crowe, her co-star in Proof of Life, being filmed in England.
British tabloids yesterday reported that 36-year-old Crowe and Ryan, 38, had been out together several times, and were holding hands and being "openly affectionate" at a private David Bowie concert last week.
The Sun ran a front-page story saying Crowe had been comforting Ryan through the breakup of her marriage and she had fallen for him.
The paper quoted people who it said were friends of Ryan and Crowe as saying they were "incredibly fond" of each other and were "sick of sneaking around."
"They just click. She feels young again and they've been having a wonderful time in London. It's as if Meg is a new woman," said the paper's sources.
The Daily Mail, which had a photo of Crowe trailing Ryan out on the town last week, said the actors "immediately clicked and became good friends."
In Proof of Life, Crowe is a hostage negotiator who falls for the wife (Ryan) of the man he is trying to free.
Ryan, dubbed America's Perky Princess, starred in the romantic comedies When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail.
Quaid, a reformed cocaine addict, has appeared in a series of movie flops.
They got married on Valentine's Day, 1991, and have an 8-year-old son, Jack.
Ryan demands up to $30 million a movie, which she is reportedly being paid for Proof of Life, while Crowe will take home about $12 million for the movie.
