There has been much speculation about their relationship and now Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal have finally come out as a couple.

The pair met on set of the upcoming movie Rendition and have now taken their romance public - they were spotted holding hands and canoodling during a romantic trip to Rome.

Witherspoon, 31, whose divorce from former husband Ryan Phillippe was finalised this month, had previously denied a romance with the Brokeback Mountain star.

Jake and Reese hug it out during their first public outing as a couple

The pair first began dating around March this year, although they were careful to avoid being photographed together.

However, Reese, who has two children Ava, 8, and Deacon, 3, called the romance off in June, according to reports.

Now it's clear their love affair is most definitely back on.

Reese has said: "I have known Jake for years through different friends and he is just wonderful.

(Agencies via China Daily October 25, 2007)