'It’s no great secret how they've got close:' James McAvoy 'linked to X-Men co-star Alexandra Shipp' after it's revealed he's to divorce wife of nine years Anne-Marie Duff

Hands on: James McAvoy, 37, has allegedly formed a close friendship with his X-Men co-star Alexandra Shipp, 24, according to new reports

James McAvoy and Anne Marie-Duff shocked fans when they issued a joint statement announcing they are to divorce.

And the Scottish actor, 37, has allegedly formed a close friendship with his X-Men co-star Alexandra Shipp, 24, according to a report in the Daily Mirror.

A source told the publication: 'It’s no great secret how they’ve got close. James has been quite open among the cast and crew that his marriage was over – and it seems he has struck up a friendship with Alex since then.

'It’s been the source of some gossip among those connected to the film – but they’ve kept things low key.'

James was pictured at last week's X-Men: Apocalypse premiere at London's BFI IMAX placing his hands around Alexandra's waist as they shared a joke.

The American beauty takes on the role of Storm, previously played by Halle Berry in the noughties, in the latest film in the franchise.

James is reportedly still living with Anne-Marie and the pair's relationship is amicable.

The source added: 'He and his wife are still living together and things are pretty amicable, but there was no doubt he is now single. He and Alex were certainly very tactile.'

                             

End of an era: James and Anne Marie-Duff, 45, shocked fans when they issued a joint statement announcing they are to divorce

 James and Anne-Marie met on the set of Shameless over a decade ago, where they played on-screen lovebirds Steve McBride and Fiona Gallagher.

They issued a joint statement which read: 'It is with tremendous sadness that we have come to the decision to divorce,' the pair said in a joint statement.

'We enter this next phase with continued friendship, love and respect for one another and the shared focus of caring for our son.

'We ask that you respect our and, most importantly, our child’s privacy during this time.'

X-Men star James and fellow thespian Anne-Marie are parents to a son named Brendan, born in 2010.

The stars tied the knot in a low-key ceremony on October 18, 2006.

Following their nuptials, the Scottish actor confessed to radio host Ryan Seacrest that his wife had made him complete, making him feel 'like myself a little bit more'.

                             

Star-studded: James recently joined his co-star Jennifer Lawrence for an appearance on The Graham Norton Show on Friday evening, just as news of his marital separation broke

James previously explained that the couple liked to keep their marriage private and preferred to shun the limelight.

The split comes in the midst of James' promotional tour for his new film, X-Men: Apocalypse, which is set to drop on May 27.

He recently joined his co-star Jennifer Lawrence for an appearance on The Graham Norton Show on Friday evening, just as news of his marital separation broke.

Viewers were quick to claim there was 'outrageous flirting' between James and Jennifer as they joked comedian Jack Whitehall and Hollywood heavyweight Johnny Depp on the sofa.
        
          source:mailonline