Is Kate Winslet Dating Richard Branson's Nephew?

By Liz Raftery

09/23/2011 at 11:35 AM EDT

Talk about sparks flying!

Kate Winslet not only escaped a house fire while vacationing at Richard Branson's Caribbean home last month, but apparently found chemistry with Branson's nephew "Ned Rocknroll," who was also staying on Necker Island at the time.

Though the recent Emmy winner, 35, was staying at Branson's home with her two children – Mia, 10, and Joe, 7 – and boyfriend at the time, model Louis Dowler, when she left the island to return to New York, it was Ned who accompanied her, according to Britain's Daily Mail.

It was an eventful trip for Winslet, who rescued Branson's 90-year-old mother from the blaze that destroyed the business mogul's vacation home.



"Ned was heartbroken and went to Necker to take his mind off things," a source told British tabloid The Sun of Rocknroll, 33, who separated from his wife, heiress Eliza Cowdray, earlier this year. "But when Kate came out they really hit it off."

The pair have been dating ever since, British reports say. They were photographed walking together in central London earlier this week, both in town to attend the funeral of Richard Branson's father, Ted.

Ned, who legally changed his name from Ned Abel Smith, works for Branson's space initiative, Virgin Galactic. A rep for Winslet had no comment.