As Jennifer Connelly gazed into Tom Cruise‘s eyes and gently adjusted his shirt at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere in Cannes last week, those not up to date with celebrity gossip could easily have assumed they’re daying. 

But the actress, 50, has been happily married to Marvel star Paul Bettany, also 50, since 2003, while her co-star is reportedly single, despite the amourous looks and very public display of affection. 

Jennifer and Tom are the latest co-stars to indulge in ‘faux-flirting’, where celeb pals act all loved-up on the red carpet to get the cameras flashing and the fans talking about their undeniable chemistry. 

Oscar Isaac set the red carpet of Venice’s International Film Festival on fire last September when he left a sultry kiss on the arm of his longtime pal Jessica Chastain while the pair were promoting their mini-series Scenes of a Marriage. 

In 2019, it was Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper who set Hollywood ablaze with rumours of an affair after their very cosy piano duet from A Star is Born at the Oscars that even got under the skin of Cooper’s partner at the time, the Russian model Irina Shayk. 

Others, like Viggo Mortensen and Lea Seydoux in Cannes, have opted for more innocent but equally telling embraces on the carpet to drive speculation. 

And according to body language expert Judi James, celebs are turning to this trick because it speaks to their great working relationship, while sending fans into a frenzy – thus boosting ticket sales. 

JENNIFER CONNELLY AND TOM CRUISE 

Even with planes blazing over head and a crowd of celebrities wearing their red carpet best, all eyes were on Tom Cruise and Jennifer Connelly at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere in Cannes last Wednesday.

The actors, who play love interests in the aviation flick, shared a few intimate moments that lit up their photocall. 

Connelly was seen adjusting Cruise’s shirt collar, while the actor gave her one of his best smiles, and Judi noted how the interaction was full of subtext. 

‘Only two red carpet veterans like Tom Cruise and Jennifer Connelly could say so much with so little effort,’ the body language expert said. 

‘This simple “straightening the collar” grooming ritual has a veneer of innocence and friendship over a dramatic and romantic underlay,’ she added.

Judi went on to say that while the touch was not sensual, it ‘shrieked possessive territorial marking.’ 

‘No woman would watch another woman doing this to her man without snarling inwardly,’ she said.

And Judi went on to explain that the interaction spoke to the close friendship the stars shared.  

‘Everyone knows Tom Cruise is a man who needs no tidying, straightening or adjusting. 

‘He is always totally impeccable, making this an emotional, rather than a practical-looking gesture,’ she said.  

‘The message from Jennider is “I do it because I can, not because I need to”, which is a silent boast about the length of their friendship,’ the expert added. 

The expert added how Cruise’s reaction to Jessica’s gesture went against his ‘action-man’ image. 

‘We also see Tom standing in cheery submission, smiling while watching Jennifer, which also allows for a subtle maternal/child signalling, too, making the way he is playing against type here even more adorable for the fans,’ Judi said. 

OSCAR ISAAC AND JESSICA CHASTAIN 

Last September, fans were sent into a frenzy when Oscar Isaac planted a sultry kiss on the upper arm of his Scenes of a Marriage co-star Jessica Chastain. 

A video of the scene was immediately shared on social media, sending Twitter into deep speculation over whether the stars were dating. 

In reality, Chastain has been married to fashion exec Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo since 2017 and Isaac tied the knot with Danish filmmaker Elvira Lind that same year. 

Judi noted that while Isaac’s arm kiss was ‘rather daring,’ it remained ‘classy’ while looking more intimate than an actual kiss.  

‘The upper arm (especially the part close to the armpit) is a hugely sensitive area. So sensitive in fact that this “kiss” could feel more intimate than a mouth one and Oscar really is making a meal of this ritual, holding her arm with one hand while either kissing or sniffing the flesh,’ Judi said. 

‘It looks oddly romantic and rather sensual, making Jessica’s pose even funnier. 

‘She rests her arm out onto his shoulder but turns her head away to laugh at the cameras. It’s an unusual pose but very compelling for the fans,’ she added. 

‘The suggestion is that their film will contain passionate but creative scenes,’ Judi said. 

RICHARD MADDEN AND GEMMA CHAN 

Some celebrities have also adopted similar poses that require minimal effort but reap maximal results. 

For instance, Richard Madden and his Eternals co-star Gemma Chan caused a commotion on the red carpet of Rome’s 16th Film Fest last October with just one discreet pose. 

A snap showed the Bodyguard actor whisper in the ear of the Crazy Rich Asians actress as she responded with a coy smile.  

‘This pose is a favourite red-carpet fall-back when two stars want to stir up a little speculation but without getting too sexual or intimate,’ Judi said. 

‘It’s the classic “whispering” pose where the guy gets to press his face into the woman’s ear and she responds with the kind of knowing smile that suggests she’s being flirted with. 

‘It gives the press their “moment” because from certain angles it can look as though the man is kissing the woman’s cheek or ear.’

The expert added that this pose also signals ‘exclusivity,’ where the pair appear to be ‘lost in their own world and their own communication rather than standing in front of a bank of cameras.’

And Madden found the way to make people even more interested by placing his fingers over the cut out over Gemma’s waist, the only place where she was showing skin. 

Judi said the move is a ‘vintage technique that still gets the job done in terms of getting the fans guessing and booking tickets.’ 

BRADLEY COOPER AND LADY GAGA 

When it comes to all out displays of sizzling chemistry, very few pairings have come close to matching the level of intimacy displayed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper at the 2019 Academy Awards. 

The moment, which saw the singer and the actor engage in a steamy piano duet during the ceremony, was talked about for weeks, especially because Cooper was then in a relationship with Russian model Irina Shayk. 

‘This was the body language that launched a thousand ticket sales as the couple serenaded each other to plug their film,’ Judi said. 

‘Both went totally into role here, giving the impression that they were canoodling alone and sharing an intimate and very heated moment that ended with their heads pressed together,’ the expert added. 

‘With more chemistry on display than in an entire science lab, the cameras were also busy picking up shots of Bradley’s then-girlfriend’s facial expressions as she watched this non-verbal declaration of what looked like love,’ she went on. 

However, according to Judi, the move was thoroughly thought out, and it is unlikely Gaga, who had to sing and play the piano at the same time, would have lost herself in the moment so deeply.  

‘Gaga didn’t miss one note on the night but it did fool a lot of their fans,’ the expert added. 

KATE WINSLET AND LEONARDO DICAPRIO 

One couple has mastered the will-they-won’t-they look over the years, driving decade-long speculation that they might end up together. 

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet became instant BFFs when they met as budding actors on the set of James Cameron’s Titanic, and have entertained a strong bond since. 

And after playing love interests over several collaboration, the pair have mastered the art of leaving people guessing. 

‘It’s the torso-closeness that looks intimate here, as Leo places one hand around Kate’s waist,’ Judi said. 

‘Their cheeks brush rather than press together and despite Leo’s reflective downward glance he looks like a man totally aware that the cameras are busy recording this moment for a global audience,’ Judi added.