Kate Winslet strikes up 'close friendship' with young model - four months after splitting from husband

By Simon Cable

Kate Winslet has apparently stuck up a close friendship with 34-year-old male model Louis Dowler


It's only been four months since she split from her husband.

But unlucky-in-love Kate Winslet may have already overcome her heartache after apparently striking up a close friendship with a hunky young model.

The 34-year-old Oscar winner is said to have become inseparable from British model Louis Dowler in recent weeks.

She is said to have been introduced to Dowler - who is ten years younger than Winslet's estranged husband Sam Mendes - by mutual friends at a party.

Dowler, who is six foot tall, has been seen in a number of high-profile advertising campaigns and has modelled for fashion house Burberry.

The pair are believed to have spent increasing amounts of time together recently and saw each other in New York while he was on a fashion shoot several weeks ago, according the News of the World.

A source told the newspaper: 'They've been on lots of dates and get on really well. It's early days for them but they enjoy each other's company.

'Louis has a good sense of humour and really is a lovely guy. He loves to surf and he's really quite engaging and very down-to-earth.

'He's a good looking guy and gets lots of attention when he's out and about - but he's not your typical model. Not at all big-headed.


'Louis has a good sense of humour and really is a lovely guy. He loves to surf and he's really quite engaging and very down-to-earth.' says a friend


Louis has modelled with Kate Moss for Burberry and has also worked the catwalk for Canali


Winslet split from film director Mendes in March and immediately after announcing their separation, fled to Mexico with their son Joe, six and her nine-year-old daughter Mia, from her previous marriage to producer Jim Threapleton.

After a short break, she then threw herself back into work by filming the HBO television mini-series Mildred Pierce in New York.

But her friendship with Dowler might go some way to explaining her stunning appearance as she filmed an advert in Italy last week.

The Hollywood star looked radiant with beach-chic blonde tresses and smouldering make-up that made her appear much younger than her 34 years.

She is currently living in New York's exclusive Greenwich Village where her children attend a private primary school.

Dowler, who is signed to Select Model Management has also modelled for Paco Rabanne and Paul Smith and starred in campaigns alongside supermodel Kate Moss, was born in Cornwall and now owns a home in London.

Just last week, Winslet was rumoured to have been reconciling with Mendes.

However, the story was strenuously denied by her representatives, who say the pair have no plans to reunite.


Stunning: Kate Winslet looked radiant as she filmed an advert in Rome for Longines watches last week


Their marriage hit the rocks after they shot a film together about a couple who break up.

Months of stormy rows followed the filming of Revolutionary Road, in which Mendes directed his wife co-starring with Leonardo DiCaprio.

They culminated in a joint statement by the couple confirming they had parted.

The pair were seen as one of the movie world's golden couples and the actress had taken the last 12 months off work following her Oscar success in The Reader, supposedly to spend time with her family.

But they had not been seen in public together since an appearance at Wimbledon last summer and eyebrows were first raised when she attended the Baftas and Oscars alone.

In 1998 she married producer Jim Threapleton, whom she met while on the set of her film, Hideous Kinky, but they split three years later.

A spokesman for the star did not return the Daily Mail's calls last night.


In happier times: Kate poses with her two Golden Globe awards that she received for The Reader and for Revolutionary Road, directed by her ex Sam Mendes, right


source: dailymail