GIBSON FLEES TO COSTA RICA

The actor's wife of 28 years, Robyn, filed for divorce on Monday (13Apr09), ending a secret three-year separation - and Gibson isn't hanging around Hollywood.

He attended an Easter Sunday (12Apr09) service at his family chapel in California and now he has been spotted on the beach in Costa Rica, where he set up a production company in 2007.

U.S. news show Extra reports a mystery blonde arrived at his $26 million (£17.3 million) Costa Rican Ranch by helicopter on Monday.

An onlooker tells the news show Gibson walked barefoot on the beach with his female friend, looking tanned and relaxed. He was still wearing what appeared to be his wedding band.

It's no big surprise that Gibson has jetted off to his second home in the aftermath of the divorce news - in a 2007 interview, he said, "I love it here, it's a beautiful country, very stable. I like its people a lot and they have very good coffee."

The identity of the actor/director's female companion is not known, but Russian pop star Oksana Pochepa, 24, recently claimed she was the mystery bikini babe in candid beach shots taken in Costa Rica last month (Mar09).

The singer has announced she is in love with Gibson after allegedly conducting an affair with the actor that ended his marriage.

Pochepa says, "This is serious and I hope that our union will be real and strong and long-lasting."

Another Russian, classical pianist Oksana Kolesnikova, has denied reports she's the new woman in the Mad Max star's life.