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Paris, Feb 11: Actress Melissa George has given birth to her first child, a son, with her boyfriend Jean-David Blanc. The newborn has been named Raphael.

The 37-year-old gave birth to Raphael Feb 6 here and she shared the news on microblogging website Twitter, reports contactmusic.com.

"Welcome to the world! Our beautiful son just born at the American hospital of Paris. There are no words to describe the love," George tweeted.

The actress was married to director Claudio Dabed for 11 years until they split in 2011.

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Australian actress Melissa George hopes to reconcile with her ex-boyfriend Russell Simmons once she is back working in America because they struggled to sustain a long-distance romance.

The Amityville Horror star began dating the music mogul last year after the break-up of her marriage to Chilean film director Claudio Dabed, but they recently split due to their international work schedules.

George is currently filming a new TV show in the U.K. and wants to move back to New York once she is finished, and she hopes to reconnect with Simmons upon her return.

She tells Australia's Herald Sun, "We have a big love. It's something that's not going to be easy to let go of, but I'm on a job and he's busy. I was going back and forth (between London and New York) and we had a great holiday in St Barts (in January). But, at some point, a man needs a woman around.

"It's something we need to figure out, but we're very, very close and good friends. I have two more months of work here and then I'll be back in New York, so we'll see..."

She adds of Simmons, "He's so vibrant; he's the air everyone should breathe. He's an extraordinary man. He's a yogi and vegan and healthier than 20 men put together. And he makes me laugh until I'm rolling on the floor."

George was rumoured to have been spotted kissing a member of The Artist's production team at a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards afterparty last month, but the actress remains coy when asked about her new man.

She says, "It was pretty nice and pretty full on. We'll see about that one."...

Australian actress Melissa George has spoken for the first time about her marriage breakdown, insisting it was "very hard" for her to leave her husband, but she "did the right thing".

The Amityville Horror star married Chilean film director Claudio Dabed in 2000, but they announced plans to divorce last year and she went on to date music mogul Russell Simmons.

George has now revealed she gave her husband "five years' notice on a couple of issues" but felt she had to walk away when those problems remained unsolved.

She tells Australia's Herald Sun, "It was something that happened pretty much overnight. I kind of gave him five years' notice on a couple of issues, and when it came up again for him, the lights just went out for me.

"I did have the best marriage. It was so full of love... But, at some point, when it stops serving your needs as a woman and the things that you want for your life, it's either get out now or wait until it's too late. It was very hard for me, but I'm glad I did it... I did the right thing. It was like an epiphany..."

George refuses to confirm the issues that led to the split, but hints her desire to have children may have played a part.

When asked about her plans for a baby, she adds, "I wanted children, yes, but I still have time. Now I can start from scratch... (I think about becoming a mother) every minute of the day. Some days, it rips my heart out. And then, other days, I almost forget about it because I'm so busy... My acting is going great; I'm financially independent and I'm not short of love - it's not as if I'm sitting around at home, moping.

"But whoever I have my baby with, I want to be proud of that man and I want to carry a child to a man who wants to do that as well. But, hey, I've got years when you think about it."...

Melissa George has revealed that she is "glad" that she ended her marriage. The 35-year-old Australian actress, who is best known for her roles in Home and Away and ABC drama The Slap, admitted that her split from film director Claudio Dabed last year was very sudden despite there being a few long-standing "issues" in their relationship. George told the Sunday Herald Sun: "It was something that happened pretty much overnight. I kind of gave him five years' notice on a couple of issues, and when it came up again for him, the lights just went out for me. "I did have the best marriage. It was so full of love, and he's an extraordinary man. I think I made a great choice. But, at some point, when it stops serving your needs as a woman and the things that you want for your life, it's either get out now...

Melissa George has finally admitted that she is in a relationship with Russell Simmons. The 35-year-old Australian actress, who recently returned home from La to film Australian TV series The Slap, was first linked to hip-hop mogul Simmons in July after splitting from husband of 11 years, Chilean film director Claudio Dabed. When asked if she was in a relationship with Simmons, George told the Herald Sun: "Yes." She then said that she was amused by her boyfriend recently posting a raunchy picture of her on Twitter then asking his followers if the image was "too sexy". George said of the romance: "It's just, you know, fun... so much fun. I can't stop smiling. For what it's worth, whatever is going on, and it's been a while now, it's absolutely lovely."

While shooting The Slap, George (more)...

Melissa George is believed to be single again. The Australian actress, who is best known for her roles in Triangle and Mullholland Drive, has been married to 46-year-old film director Claudio Dabed for 11 years but they have not been seen together since March. George has been spotted with hip-hop star Russell Simmons on various occasions over the past two months, according to the Sunday Herald Sun. They were reportedly seen kissing at a New Jersey football match on Wednesday and also attended a New York film premiere together. George and Dabed met in Bali in 1998 and married two years later. She has previously spoken of her good (more)...

Melissa George has revealed that being back home is "hard". The Aussie actress, who lives in Los Angeles but has recently returned to Australia to film ABC drama series The Slap, said that she is "missing" her husband, Chilean filmmaker Claudio Dabed. George told The Daily Telegraph: "I'm feeling good but missing my husband terribly and my dog Glee because usually when I shoot they (more)...

Melissa George has revealed that she wants to have children. The 34-year-old Australian actress, who has been married to Chilean film director Claudio Dabed for nine years, said that it would make her family very happy if she got pregnant next year. George told The Daily Telegraph: "I am still young but I have got to have kids soon, big time. I am renovating my apartment in New York right now and I really want (more)...

Australian actress Melissa George has booked in time to have a baby next year.

The Mulholland Drive star married Chilean director Claudio Dabed in 2000, and they have waited nine years to start a family.

But George is adamant she wants to get pregnant in 2010 and she's pinpointed a gap in her schedule when she can realistically take time off for a baby.

She says, "I'm going to have a baby. I have booked three different movies starting in February going all the way through to July, which I am really happy about. Then I think I will just have a baby after that."

George, 33, is a stepmother to Dabed's 15-year-old daughter Martina, from a previous relationship.