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Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck has sparked rumours of a split from girlfriend Lindsay Shookus after he stepped out for a belated birthday dinner with another woman.

The Justice League star turned 46 on Wednesday, when he spent quality time with his three children from his marriage to Jennifer Garner, and on Thursday, he enjoyed a dinner date - but it wasn't with Shookus.

Ben was photographed leaving top Los Angeles restaurant Nobu Malibu after dining with Shauna Sexton, a 22-year-old beauty who appeared as Playboy magazine's Miss May 2018, reports TMZ.com.

According People.com, she was part of a group of friends who had joined the actor/director for the meal, and they were snapped exiting separately.

Ben and Shauna have yet to comment on the nature of their relationship, but the sighting has raised questions about the status of his romance with TV producer Lindsay, who the star was last pictured with in late July, a year after they first started dating.

Interestingly, TMZ notes a moving van was spotted outside Affleck's California mansion on 9 August, although the reason for its hire is unknown.

The news emerges a week after Ben and his estranged wife Jennifer were warned that their divorce filing may be dismissed if they failed to update their case.

The actors split in June 2015, after 10 years of marriage, and filed legal papers in April, 2017, but court officials are still waiting for a final judgement to be entered.

Sources recently told the The Blast the stars are nearing a final settlement, although it is not known what has caused the delay.

The former couple has maintained a close relationship following its separation to co-parent its three children - Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six.