Is Russell Crowe, 48, dating his 22-year-old co-star? Gladiator star 'linked to Les Miserables actress Samantha Barks'

  • Australian magazine claims the pairs have a 'special relationship'
  • Miss Barks has been working out with Crowe and singing with his band
  • Her father Richard says the co-stars are 'simply friends'

By Paul Revoir

PUBLISHED: 18:22 EST, 3 March 2013 | UPDATED: 18:35 EST, 3 March 2013

She's come a long way from finishing third on the BBC's Saturday night talent show I'd Do Anything.

Five years later, Samantha Barks is well on the road to becoming a Hollywood star – with, perhaps, a Hollywood superstar on her arm to boot.

Miss Barks, 22, has been linked romantically with 48-year-old Russell Crowe, her co-star in the film Les Miserables. An Australian magazine claims that Miss Barks, from the Isle of Man, has developed  a 'special relationship' with the Gladiator actor.

Just friends? Samantha Barks with Russell Crowe at the Oscars last month

Just friends? Samantha Barks with Russell Crowe at the Oscars last month

An insider told New Idea magazine that at the Oscars after-party: 'She was continually touching his sleeve, giggling and sitting in awe of his every word, and he was lapping up every moment.'

Miss Barks has also been working out with the actor, and singing with his band at gigs in New York.

But her father, Richard, said the pair were 'simply friends'.

Pictures in the magazine showed the co-stars out together last week in fitness attire and dining at a Beverly Hills café.

The pair were also together at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles where Les Mis won three of the coveted statuettes.

An insider said they were clearly on very close terms at the after-show party, the Governor's Ball.

The onlooker at the told the magazine: 'Russell and Sam greeted each other like the oldest of friends and no one could get a word in.

'It was electric watching them flirt, it was the buzz of the ball.'

Miss Barks missed out playing Nancy in the West End production of Oliver! after coming third in the BBC series I'd Do Anything, won by Jodie Prenger. 

But despite not winning the coveted stage role she went on to star as Eponine in the big screen adaptation of Les Miserables.

Miss Barks has previously spoken about how she hit it off with Mr Crowe during filming of the musical.

She said in one interview: 'We had the best time hanging out. It was awesome.'

Mr Crowe has also written about the actress and singer on his Twitter account revealing he had been 'working out' with her including a '4km walk, 30 mins elliptical, 4 mins prone hold, shoulder routine, lats, bench, Turkish stand'.

He also complimented her before her appearance at the Oscars on the social networking site.

The Les Miserables co-stars, who performed at the Oscars ceremony last month, were 'close' at the after-party

The Les Miserables co-stars, who performed at the Oscars ceremony last month, were 'close' at the after-party

He wrote: 'Last tech rehearsals for the Big O done...next up...showtime..@SamanthaBarks will be looking amazing tonight, worth tuning in just for that.'

Miss Barks shared one of her own moments with Crowe on Instagram which showed the pair 'having boxing lessons' on set.

In January she also revealed told how the the pair have performed together. She said 'Russell and I actually do gigs - I gig with his band so I speak him a lot.'

She added: 'It's very cool. We've done a few gigs in New York so far but whenever we're all free, we all just love to have a little jam...it's wicked.'

Despite the couple's obvious closeness her family last night denied they are romantically involved.

Speaking from his home in Laxey, Isle of Man, Richard Barks said the pair were friendly but not in a relationship together.

Mr Crowe split up with his wife of nine years Danielle Spencer, 43, in October. The couple have two children.

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