Vanessa Hudgens Talks Rumored New Guy

Since her split with boyfriend of five years Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens has been enjoying playing the field.

Asked about her dating status on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today, the High School Musical alum, 22, insisted, "I'm single."

Yet when DeGeneres pressed her about pics with Journey 2: The Mysterious Island costar Josh Hutcherson, 18, she coyly responded, "Can't a girl have friends?...We just did a movie together and we had the best time." For months, their has been online speculation of a budding romance between the pair, who have been spotted together around L.A.

As for Efron, 23, Hudgens swears they are still pals despite their abrupt split in December. "After being in a relationship with someone that long, you stay friends," she said.

Credit: Us Magazine

Ryan Phillippe on Amanda Seyfried: "I'm Dating"

Confessions of Ryan Phillippe . . . well, sorta.

The Lincoln Lawyer actor, 36, hasn't said much about his on-again romance with Amanda Seyfried.

Still, during a Friday appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Phillippe opened up -- just a teensy bit -- about his love life these days.

"I'm dating," admitted the hunk. "Not nearly as voracious as the magazines like to make out, [but] I am dating."

Phillippe (who has also hooked up with Rihanna in recent months, an insider told Us) didn't mention his Red Riding Hood love by name, but offered up what kind of women he fancies.

"Sense of humor. I like a strong woman," said the actor, who has two kids with ex-wife Reese Witherspoon. "I like individuality. I like a woman who's self possessed. Who knows who she is. Who knows what she wants."

Seyfried, 25, was similarly coy with Elle mag about Phillippe. "I've been 'seen' with him," she said in the interview.

Another lady interested in Phillippe's romantic life? His mom! Recovering from recent surgery, the star's mother "spends all day in front of the computer" and gets "really, really upset" by "negative" news about her little boy.

Plus, she noticed her son referred to as a "D.I.L.F." in online comments, and quickly discerned the acronym's meaning. "She's like, 'Yes, it means they want to have sex with him,'"

Added Phillippe, laughing: "I think she's embraced D.I.L.F."

Credit: Us Magazine