8 APRIL 2005

Having kept a safe distance between them during a recent jaunt to Las Vegas to promote their new movie Mr And Mrs Smith, apparently Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are doing the same in posters for the action romance.

Playing husband and wife assassins in the flick, Brad and Angelina pose separately in the shots, the Hollywood hunk wearing a smart grey suit and the Tomb Raider beauty resplendent in a sexy, leg-baring evening gown.

According to the rumour mill, however, behind the scenes its been a different story for Brad – who is being divorced by wife Jennifer Aniston – and his-costar.

A US magazine reported the two had "frolicked" together at a Palm Springs villa over Easter weekend, further igniting speculation about the photogenic pair's relationship. But a representative for Brad issued a denial, insisting: "This particular story is completely untrue."

It is a rare retort from the actor, who tries not to let rumours about his private life bother him. "It used to drive me a little bit crazy," he said of the gossip during a recent TV interview. "I just don't deal with it you know. You can lose a lot of your life answering to that and it sucks up your day."