The new Taylor and Burton?

The smiles, affection and sizzling chemistry when Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck cosied up on the red carpet looked familiar.

- BY JANINE YAQOOB

Given two engagements, one marriage, and two public splits that spanned years, the couple are beginning to mirror Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's passionate love story.

Taylor and Burton married in 1964, divorced 10 years later and married again in 1975, but split less than a year on. The volatile union remains iconic.

"When I saw him on the set of Cleopatra [in 1962], I fell in love, and I have loved him ever since, practically my whole adult life," Liz said. And Jen has said of her first breakup with Ben: "Once we called off that wedding, it was the biggest heartbreak of my life. I honestly felt like I was going to die."

Fifty years on from Liz and Richard, J-Lo and Ben's love story looked this week to be gearing up for a third act.

They surprised the world when they announced in 2022 they were marrying nearly 20 years after first falling in love, but divorced after two-and-a-half years.