Ryan Phillippe seems to be very affectionate towards his colleague, Abbie Cornish, the media reports. The two were seen in public at the Australians in Film 2008 Breakthrough Awards in Beverly Hills and a source quoted by the People magazine said “they were cozy and comfortable”. Apparently throughout the evening the couple also held hands.

There were rumors that the Australian actress could be the reason behind Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon divorce. Reese herself has been linked to her “Rendition” co-star Jake Gyllenhaal, after the announcement of her separation from Ryan.

Ryan met Abbie Cornish while he was filming "Stop-Loss," a movie written and directed by Kimberly Peirce. Ryan Philippe plays a very sensitive and difficult role of a soldier fighting in Iraq.

Philippe’s character in “Stop-Loss,” Sgt. Brandon King, joins the army following the events on September 11, and is sent to Iraq, where he gains many awards during the war. When he eventually returns home, he finds out he is supposed to go back to war again, even though his contract had expired. He is very upset with this injustice and decides to run away as AWOL.

Earlier this year, in an interview for W magazine, Ryan Philippe has talked about soldiering on following his high-profile divorce from actress Reese Witherspoon last year.

Calling it “the worst time in my life,” Phillippe said he was unable to get out of bed for four or five months after the end of his seven-year marriage.

However, despite media rumors, he refused to comment on his alleged affair with Abbie Cornish.

“I don’t think an outside person can ever cause a divorce. I had difficulties in my relationship, and in my marriage, long before I ever met her,” he said once.