Bradley Cooper has reportedly struck up a close relationship with French actress Melanie Laurent.

The actor, who was recently voted People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive, was seen out on a date with the Inglourious Basterds star recently.

The pair were initially with a group of friends as they went to see a movie but after the film the twosome went off together on their own, Hollyscoop has claimed.

Melanie is also rumoured to be a friend of Bradley's ex-girlfriend Renee Zellweger, who he broke up with earlier this year.

The two women posed for photographs together at the Miu Miu Pret a Porter show at Paris Fashion Week in 2009.

Bradley and Melanie do not have any current projects together and appeared to just be enjoying each other's company.

In a recent interview with People, Bradley insisted that he is still unattached but that he loves the company of females.

"I'm a single 36-year-old male," he said. "I don't see myself as a ladies' man. But I love women. Do you know what I'm saying?"

The hunky star had most recently been linked to Jennifer Lopez but she is now in the arms of her 24-year-old backing dancer Casper Smart.