Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal come out as a couple

Cosy: Reese rests her head on new beau Jake's shoulder during a romantic break in Rome

"He's very kind, generous and funny."

In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres this week she continued to hint at her fondness for the actor describing him as "cute" and "great".

Oscar winner Reese has made it clear she likes to be the one in control of a relationship.

Reese's divorce from former husband Ryan Phillippe was finalised this month

She told Elle magazine last month: My dad and uncle] taught me that in every relationship, the person least interested in maintaining it is going to dominate it, because they'll never compromise.

"So you have to always maintain that position of least interest, and you'll always control the relationship."

Still, she insists: "I'm fun. I can be really fun."

Gyllenhaal, 26, has previously dated actress Kirsten Dunst.