Charlize Theron secret split with Stuart Townsend?

Has Charlize Theron ended her nine-year relationship with Stuart Townsend?

They're considered one of Hollywood's strongest couples, but reports this week suggest that Charlize Theron has split with boyfriend Stuart Townsend.

The pair are yet to confirm the break-up, but sources claim that the Oscar-winning actress ended their nine-year union after a Christmas break in Mexico.

Although the pair never wed, Ms Theron wore an antique commitment ring from her beau, which she has now stopped wearing. The ring was most noticeably missing when she manned the phones at a Haiti telethon last week.

When previously asked about the ring during an interview she commented: 'Stuart gave it to me as a sign of our commitment to each other. I never take it off.'

As shown below, she wore the Victorian band of daisies on her wedding finger, but has been spotted on a number of occasions without it during the last month.

A source revealed to the Daily Mail: 'Stuart is gutted but Charlize said that she realised during the Mexican holiday that the relationship was over. They had become more like brother and sister than lovers. It was she who ended it.'

The couple first start dating in 2001, after meeting on the set of thrilled Trapped.

CHARLIZE THERON FASHION MOMENTS