Kate Winslet and Louis Dowler go public

43833, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - Kate Winslet and her boyfriend, British model Louis Dowler, hit the town together. The happy couple held hands as they left the Groucho Club before making their way to Mahiki nightclub in Mayfair, before returning to their hotel at 2.50am. Photograph: PacificCoastNews.com

Kate Winslet and Louis Dowler go public with their romance.

Kate Winslet has a new man in her life. The British actress has stepped out hand-in-hand with model Louis Dowler, a clear sign that she has found love again following her split from Sam Mendes.

Reports about the Oscar-winner’s blossoming romance first emerged at the start of the month when Kate, 34, and Louis where seen exercising together in New York.

And as the couple enjoyed a night out together in London’s West End, it was apparent that the relationship is going from strength to strength.

Dressed in a little black dress, and with her hair held in a ponytail, smiling Kate looked smitten with Louis, also 34, on their first public outing.

British model Louis, who has starred in high-profile campaigns for Burberry, Paco Rabanne and Paul Smith, and Kate are said to have become inseparable since being introduced by mutual friends at a party.

Their romance comes five months after the Revolutionary Road actress and her estranged husband, 45-year-old director Sam, announced they were separating after nearly seven years of marriage.

She was also married to Jim Threapleton from 1998 until 2001, with whom she had a daughter, Mia Honey, now nine. Kate and Sam are parents to six-year-old Joe.