Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton looked cozy on Thursday as they hit the red carpet together for the first time since confirming their romance.
The Italian actress, 59, and the legendary film director, 65, put on stunning performances at the premiere of “Diabolik Chi Sei” at the 18th Rome Film Festival.
Monica showed off her age-defying figure in a figure-hugging charcoal gray dress that featured a crisscross neckline to accentuate her gorgeous figure.
The youthful beauty looked as glamorous as ever as she held hands with boyfriend Burton.
The couple could barely keep their hands off each other when they publicly revealed they were together.
Sweet: Monica Bellucci and Tim Burton looked cozy on Thursday as they hit the red carpet together for the first time since confirming their romance
New couple alert: The Italian actress, 59, and the legendary film director, 65, put on a stunning show at the premiere of “Diabolik Chi Sei” at the 18th Rome Film Festival
Burton supported his new love, which stars in the film Altea di Vallemberg.
They had been secretly dating for months, but Monica finally confirmed their relationship in an interview with Elle France in June.
The Italian actress confessed her love to the filmmaker months after the first connection.
“What I can say… I’m glad I met the man,” she said. “It’s one of those encounters that rarely happen in life… I know the man, I love him, and now that I meet the director, another adventure begins.”
The model recently filmed Beetlejuice 2 with Burton in London and raved about the filmmaker’s vision.
“I love Tim,” she continued. “And I have a lot of respect for Tim Burton.”
Of his work, she said: “I love that dream world where the monsters are friendly, as if we could turn our darker aspects into something bright, forgiving. Tim Burton’s films talk a lot about that.”
Monica and Tim first met 16 years ago but are said to have met after seeing each other at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon in October.
News of their romance came to light in February, when Paris Match wrote that the couple “met briefly on the steps of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes in 2006, but only became close behind the scenes at another festival sixteen years later.” .’
Stylish: Teen beauty Monica looked as glamorous as ever as she got cozy with boyfriend Burton
Glamorous: Monica showed off her age-defying figure in a figure-hugging charcoal gray dress that featured a crisscross neckline to accentuate her gorgeous figure
Monica, who was the festival’s guest of honor, presented Tim with the Lumiere Lifetime Achievement Award on stage around the time the festival became official.
As he was presented with the award, Tim said: “I’ve never felt so much love in my entire life as I did tonight. ‘Welcome to the best funeral I’ve ever had!’
The couple were also seen heading there to watch the new production of the silent film made in 1895 by the late French filmmaker Louis Lumiere.
In February, they were spotted sharing a passionate kiss while taking a romantic stroll on Valentine’s Day.
Monica has been single since her split from artist Nicolas Lefebvre in 2019. She was previously married to Vincent Cassel from 1997 to 2013.
The former model met Cassel in 1996 on the set of Gilles Mimouni’s film “L’Appartement”. They have two daughters, Deva, who was born in 2004, and Leonie, who was born in 2010.
They dated for three years before marrying in a quiet ceremony in Monaco on the French Riviera.
Monica spoke about love in a 2011 interview with Paris Match while she was still married to Cassel, admitting that for her there is “no rationality” when it comes to relationships.
Former flame: Burton pictured with his former long-term partner Helena Bonham Carter in 2013
She said: “I am carried by the moment and instinct.” No rationality, just emotions. “You love or you don’t.”
“You don’t decide when you sit at a table: Okay, so I have two children, 16 years of life as a couple, that would be nice if it stays that way, but how do I make it work?”
“I don’t think at all that a couple is something you “work out,” as we say.”
Tim was known to be in a relationship with “The Crown” actress Helena Bonham Carter (57), but they unfortunately separated in 2014.
The couple were never married, but were together for 13 years and have two children together; Son Billy and daughter Nell.