Charlize Theron Dating Sean Penn?

Courtesy of INFDaily.com

Rumors fly.

It's surprising how much attention Sean Penn gets for being a jerk, and how little recognition he gets for dedicating his time and energy to helping Haiti. There must be something extremely off-putting about him in real life (his ego?), but that's not stopping Charlize Theron, according to recent romance rumors.

You might remember Charlize Theron's long relationship with Stuart Townsend (9 years!) and how she was linked to a laundry liost of Hollywood hunks afterward they broke up earlier this year. Post Keanu Reeves-dating rumors, Charlize is said to be hooking up with none other than Sean Penn.

Read about Sean Penn's divorce

In Touch Weekly says that Sean Penn has been there for Charlize as she deals with heartbreak, and who knows? Maybe that translated to a romantic interlude.

"He helped her through her split with Stuart [Townsend]," one source said, adding that Sean "thinks she's beautiful, and she thinks he's brilliant." The two were also seen earlier this month dining together in Santa Monica. Ooh la la!

There's a chance that Sean Penn and Charlize Theron have gotten together, of course. I feel neutral on the subject, because while I Charlize's acting (Sean's too), there's something very distant about her. Sean has a thing for blondes, although the last we heard, he was dating a model. Charlize, on the other hand, must be feeling vulnerable and could easily end up with a guy she might not date normally.

Read about more Charlize Theron dating rumors

We'll be closer to thinking that Sean Penn and Charlize Theron are dating if they are seen out dining together more regularly. Come to think of it, some hand-holding would help, too.