Sources have told Us Weekly and People magazine that Reese Witherspoon was the instigator of her rumoured relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal.

The pair had known each other as acquaintances through Reese’s estranged husband Ryan Phillippe but a source told People magazine when they started working together on new film Rendition, “Jake went and reintroduced himself to Reese.”

“Things slowly progressed, but it was never something she thought would happen from the start. She just kind of developed this little crush over time.”

A second source told Us Weekly: “Reese was the pursuer .. she thought he was intelligent and charming.”


The source added that there is a definite mutual attraction based on their similar attitudes to life: “Jake doesn’t want a party girl at all.”

“Reese is perfect because she understands the business and also the importance of family. Plus, he admires her talent, thinks she is beautiful and he respects her values. He respects everything about her actually.”

And from the other side, People’s source added: “Jake finds it attractive that she’s such a great mom. He really loves kids and wants a family. They’re super together - this thing is for real.”

The pair have been spotted dining (and “canoodling”) together at Il Sole in Los Angeles last month and according to People, more recently at La Ripaille near Jake’s apartment in New York.