London 'love-nest' for Eric and Nicole, claims gossip mill

1.00pm - BY LEAH HAINES

A Kiwi cupid may have struck straight into the purse of Aussie screen siren Nicole Kidman, who is reportedly shopping for a London love-nest to woo Warriors boss Eric Watson.

The British gossip mill is on fire with reports Kidman is smitten with the UK-based Kiwi millionaire and is hunting for a mansion in London's posh Primrose Hill to be near him.

"Probably because they were friends already, Nicole and Eric have become very serious, very quickly," the Femalefirst celebrity website quotes a source as saying.

The Daily Star newspaper is fascinated with Watson's infamous reputation as a playboy and very-young-ladies' man. But, the paper's source is quoted as saying, he has been bragging that the 37-year-old Australian Oscar winner has changed his ways. "He's telling everyone he's bagged his dream woman and he's going to give her a dream family life."

Watson and Kidman set the tabloids abuzz this month when they were photographed together at a boxing bout in Las Vegas.

He was identified as the "mystery man" pictured with her in NW magazine.

Watson has been no stranger to celebrity watchers since he was involved in a bust-up with Kidman's other good mate - Kiwi Oscar winner Russell Crowe - at a swanky London bar in 2002.

He is one of New Zealand's richest men, with a fortune estimated in 2003 at $275 million.

Since splitting with his model wife Nicky he has been linked with a succession of young women, almost exclusively teenagers or women in their early 20s.

The actress is reportedly shopping for a substantial family home, with enough room, not just for Watson but for Isabella and Conor, the children she shares with ex-husband Tom Cruise.

If Watson does settle down with Kidman, Primrose Hill has no shortage of luxury homes they could cozy up in.

For just 2.5 million pounds ($6.6 million) the couple could buy a palatial seven-bedroom stucco-fronted five-floor home in Regent's Park Rd.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY