Alicia used gay rumours to date in peace

Alicia Silverstone has admitted that she ignored rumours that she was gay in order to keep her relationship with her boyfriend private.

The Beauty Shop actress married Chris Jarecki last year, but was constantly accused of being a lesbian by the media while the pair dated in secret.

She told Contactmusic: "I was only 20 when I met Chris. It was a long time before we became romantically involved because I was so busy with my career. He just remained the person I wanted to talk to the most. I started to realise that he was the most wonderful man I'd probably ever meet. But I didn't want to talk about him because I thought it might jinx it."

The 29-year-old continued: "It took us an age to actually get together and by that time I'd become used to not talking about him. I also didn't want to become a showbiz couple. I'm naturally that way about my private life. I think some people must've thought, 'Does this guy really exist?'"