LATEST: Hunky actor RUSSELL CROWE has been enjoying intimate time with his old flame - while new love MEG RYAN is on the other side of the world.

The GLADIATOR star and sexy Meg spent the festive season apart - Russell retired to his Australian ranch, while Meg took JACK - her son by estranged husband DENNIS QUAID - skiing in Aspen, Colorado. America.

Russell hooked up with Aussie DANIELLE SPENCER - who friends say is is "lost love" when he arrived Down Under, and invited the gorgeous ex-HOME AND AWAY star back to his ranch. A pal says, "It's no secret that Russell and Danielle are still on very good terms. They're always talking on the phone. Because he hardly gets a chance to see her now, he invited her up to the farm for a couple of days. "But she ended up staying for around a week, much longer than expected, because they were getting on so well."

The friend adds, "Danielle finished the relationship because they were spending so much time apart. Russell was heartbroken and begged her to change her mind many times over the years. She really is his lost love." A female friend of CITY OF ANGLES star Meg says, "She's sobbing her heart out. She doesn't know what to do." (NFA/WNTST/PDD)

Source: WENN