Lea Michele 'dating' One Tree Hill heartthrob Robert Buckley

Lea Michele is reportedly dating former One Tree Hill star Robert Buckley.

The 29-year-old actress has been single since splitting from Matthew Paetz in February (16) after two years of dating. But she is said to have moved on from the break-up and is rumoured to be in a "new" relationship with actor Robert, who is most famous for playing Clay Evans in One Tree Hill and more recently Major Lilywhite in iZombie.

According to Us Weekly, the new couple, who are thought to have met through their mutual friends, was seen on a dinner date at Santa Monica restaurant Milo & Olive on Monday night (09May16).

"They were sitting at the bar all cuddly," another restaurant goer told the website. "He pushed her chair in for her and everything.

"They were interlocked the whole time they were sitting at the counter, like arms wrapped around each other at their seats and rubbing each other’s backs. At one point they had either just kissed or were super close talking."

Following reports of the new romance, Lea's fans were quick to point out that she and Robert have been "liking" each other's posts on Instagram over the past few weeks.

The relationship will be the first for Lea since her split from Matthew, who she met on the set of her video for song On My Way. The pair began dating in 2014 following the drug overdose death of her former boyfriend and castmate Cory Monteith in July, 2013.

In an interview in January (16), Lea opened up her about her relationship, insisting Cory would have given her former flame his seal of approval.

"We've stood by each other through anything that was thrown our way. (Matt) is a such a great man that he would never really let anything like (the pressures of Hollywood) ever crack our lovely little core that we've created.

"He is very respectful towards the person that I was with (Cory), and that, again, is something I love so much about him. I really know that Cory would love him too."