TAIPEI • Stepping out of the friend zone after 10 years, Taiwanese television stars Ruby Lin and Wallace Huo have announced that they are dating.

The announcement, which was made by Huo, 36, on Weibo last Friday and confirmed by Lin, 40, is a first for the actress, who had never disclosed her relationships, said Apple Daily.

Returning to Taipei last Saturday after visiting Huo on the set of his film in Qingdao, China, Lin was collared by reporters at the airport.

Asked what she loves the most about her boyfriend, she answered: "Please, we're old friends."

Apple Daily, quoting the couple's friends, said the stars got together only four months ago, around her birthday.

The two met on the set of the 2006 drama Sound Of Colors. They had feelings for each other over the years, but it was never the right time, because one or the other would be dating someone else, said the report.

As good friends, they have been to each other's family gatherings and Lin's father was once curious to know why she had never considered dating the sensible and polite Huo.

In recent years, Huo has attended all of Lin's birthday parties and prepared gifts, said the report.

At the party this year, both were single and their friends strongly advised them to go for it.

Lin shot to stardom in 1998 with the Chiung Yao costume comedy My Fair Princess, one of the most successful Chinese-language TV series ever. Huo starred in the fantasy drama The Journey Of Flower, a big hit last year in China.