10 JUNE 2005

In recent weeks Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been at pains to deny reports of a romance between them, so it may come as some surprise to movie fans to see the pair playing happy families on the cover of a magazine.

The two performers, who are currently promoting their latest flick Mr And Mrs Smith, made a point of not being pictured together when they appeared at premieres for the film in Los Angeles and Mexico City. But they obviously had a change of heart when the photographers from W magazine came calling, because the A-list pair are gracing the cover in a make-believe shoot depicting them as mum and dad to three little boys.

In the pictures Brad and Angelina are shown playing with "their kids" – three blonde child models - not to mention having a row in the kitchen and getting a little more intimate in the bedroom.

The two, who play man and wife in their new movie, both insist there is no truth to rumours they are an item. Indeed the Lara Croft actress has even warned reporters she will "immediately terminate" any interview if asked questions about her personal relationships.

But it seems likely she and her co-star also decided to have a little fun by playing up to the media furore. "Of course everybody had reservations," confessed Editorial Director Patrick McCarthy. "Brad's agent had reservations. Brad's publicists had reservations. But Brad never did - if he did, he never shared them with us."