Does Michelle Williams prefer her men scruffy and Oscar nominated? Last week in New York, the pixie cut-sporting ex of Heath Ledger was reportedly spied polluting her lungs and striking a pose with Ryan Gosling, her co-star in the 2003 flick "The United States of Leland."

According to People, the blond-on-blond pair, both 27, was seen perambulating down Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village Tuesday night, pausing briefly to take a picture with a few fans.

The same evening, says the New York Post, eyewitnesses spotted them dining at a New York eatery, where they enjoyed a nicotine buzz a deux during "a cozy cigarette" break outside.

Through the smoke, Gosling, who split from his "Notebook" amour Rachel McAdams earlier this year, much to the chagrin of the romance's many die-hard fans, was supposedly "smiling and gazing" at Williams, who is mom to 2-year-old daughter (and Heath look-alike) Matilda.

But strolls and cancer sticks may not a love connection make.

Reps for both stars insist to the Post that they weren't on a date but were simply having a tête-à-tête about an upcoming big-screen project.

The actor could use the work: His schedule remains wide open following his abrupt departure from "The Lovely Bones," for which he packed on some major poundage (he's now back to his usual lanky self).

Still, this apparently isn't the first time Williams and Gosling have been seen out together. Last month, there was chatter that they broke bread in the actress' Brooklyn neighborhood.

By the by, reports that Ryan recently exchanged digits with 18-year-old Hayden Panettiere, whom he co-starred with in "Remember the Titans" when she was still in junior high, were roundly denied by her rep.

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