Rooney Mara Is Dating Charlie McDowell

Who’s that boy with the girl with the dragon tattoo?

Actress Rooney Mara, best known for her Golden-Globe nominated, man-hating, butt-kicking character Lisbeth Salander, has been spotted out and about with a tall, brooding redhead: her beau Charlie McDowell.

The two, who have been an item since at least 2010 – when they were photographed kissing – were hand-in-hand in Manhattan last week, wearing matching beanies while out shopping. That weekend they jetted from JFK to LAX, just ahead of Mara’s turn on the red carpet.

You may not recognize him, but McDowell, 28, comes from Hollywood royalty. His father is A Clockwork Orange star Malcolm McDowell and his mom, actress Mary Steenburgen is currently married to Ted Danson.

Despite his famous folks, McDowell’s more of a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. The aspiring director has served as a production assistant on Curb Your Enthusiasm and, in 2006, he wrote and directed Bye Bye Benjamin, a short comedy featuring Danson.

But McDowell is probably best known for his popular website and Twitter account, Dear Girls Above Me, which features hilarious quotes and commentary about his real-life neighbors upstairs.

In 2010 McDowell told Glamour.com that he began eavesdropping on his neighbors and writing about them after going through a bad breakup. “She had broken up with me outside my building and I went inside and was hysterically crying,” said McDowell, “that’s the first time that I heard the girls above me.”

McDowell’s previous heartbreak may have come from actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth, whom he dated in 2008 and reportedly split from in 2009. Be gentle Rooney, he’s sensitive.