Les Not So Miserables: Russell Crowe Dating Samantha Barks?

The rumor mill has been in full spin for Russell Crowe this past week. He was linked to '90s pop singer Natalie Imbruglia last week, and now his " Les Miserables" co-star Samantha Barks.

An Australian magazine wrote that Barks, 22, had developed a "special relationship" with Crowe while shooting "Les Mis." An anonymous source also 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." The pair performed together at the Oscars, along with the star-packed ensemble cast.

This Monday, the pair was photographed in Los Angeles having lunch in their gym clothes, presumably after one of their workouts that Crowe had been tweeting about in the days leading up to the Oscars.

Barks, who made a name for herself on Broadway before being cast as Eponine, also posted a cutesy photo of Crowe giving her a boxing lesson with the caption, "one of my favorite on set pictures."

Crowe has responded to the rumors, tweeting "@SamanthaBarks apparently we are an item according to Aussie magazines...sorry about that Sammi." The Gladiator star divorced his wife of nine years, Danielle Spencer, this past October.