Russell Brand has been "quietly dating" hotel heiress Alessandra Balazs, according to reports.

The 38-year-old former sex addict has been romantically linked to the beauty, the daughter of Andre Balazs, for several months and has even splashed out by taking her on posh vacations. "Russell and Alessandra have been quietly dating for months now and [have] even gone on holidays together and, he took her to London with him," a source said.

The pair were first spotted together in April enjoying a romantic lunch in Venice, California, and then seen again last month when they flew into London Heathrow airport as the British comedian was due to testify in parliament on the drugs policy.

The former actress has residences in both New York City and Los Angeles, while Russell has set up home in California but the couple regularly fly from coast to coast to spend quality time with each other, although, they are rarely pictured getting cozy as Alessandra tries to avoid the camera.

"The and Russell fly back and forth to see each other," the source said, before adding, "They're really cute together - I wish she wasn't so camera shy."

Alessandra's father Andre is currently dating Chelsea Handler, 38, and people are apparently enjoying the romantic coincidence that the brunette beauty and her dad are both seeing comedians the same age. "It is quite funny that a father and daughter are dating two comedians the same age," another source said.