(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Halle Berry specifically requested Olivier Martinez was cast alongside her in a new movie, it has been reported.

The pair began dating after they became close while shooting movie Dark Tide in South Africa earlier this year. The thriller focuses on a diving instructor who decides to return to the water after a near-fatal encounter with a great white shark.

It has been claimed Halle was a fan of Oliviers previous work and decided he would be the perfect man to star alongside her in the movie.

Halle sent her people to go after Martinez for the movie. She specifically requested him and told her camp to go get him," a source told the New York Post.

Halle who has a two-year-old daughter, Nahla, with her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry - has denied she requested that Olivier landed the male lead in Dark Tide.

Olivier was cast because he was the best actor for the role and both Halle and the director agreed. Any speculation beyond that reason is completely false, a representative for the Hollywood star insisted.

Halle and Olivier have been spotted enjoying a series of romantic dates in recent months. The French actor has shown Halle around his hometown of Paris, while the Oscar-winning actress even introduced the hunk to her mother earlier this month.

Neither has spoken about the burgeoning romance, but it is thought they have decided to take things slowly. (C) Cover Media