Getting some practice in? Hilary Swank totes a toddler on the set of her new movie You're Not You as things heat up with her French lover

PUBLISHED: 05:32 EST, 15 November 2012 | UPDATED: 05:42 EST, 15 November 2012

She may not be a mother herself but Hilary Swank is obviously a natural when it comes to maternal behaviour.

The actress was spotted putting some practice in on the set of her new movie, You're Not You, in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

She could be seen doting on a toddler as she carried her in between takes of the new big screen drama.

Suits you! Hilary Swank shows off her maternal side as she totes a toddler on the set of her new movie, You're Not You, in Los Angeles on Wednesday

And she seemed to take to the role well as she toted the toddler and even affectionately kissed her on her forehead.

Hilary, 38, was dressed casually in grey trousers and a cardigan with flat zig-zag patterned shoes.

She wore her hair down as she strolled along in the Los Angeles sunshine while she carried the youngster, who looked pretty in a flower pattern top.

Feeling broody? The Million Dollar Baby star, who is not a mother herself, seemed to enjoy the motherly role as she walked around the sunny set

Swank's outing comes as her private life is heating up with her new French lover Laurent Fleury.

The Million Dollar Baby actress started dating the real estate broker several weeks ago following her split from long term lover John Campisi this summer.

The loved-up up couple, who have been inseparable for the last several weeks, were spotted holding hands as they walked to a friend's house for lunch in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Break from filming: Hilary will play an ailing thirty-something in the film who befriends a self absorbed college student, who becomes her part time caregiver

Father-of-two Laurent is based in Paris where the two have reportedly been sharing his apartment.

But Laurent has also been spending more time in Los Angeles in recent weeks, where the avid surfer finds much to occupy him.

The new romance for Hilary comes after she split from her boyfriend and longtime agent Campisi in August.

The Boys Don't Cry star wasted no time in putting the Los Angeles home that the two had shared on the market.

Content: While she's busy filming the new project her private life has been heating up with new French boyfriend Laurent Fleury recently

New role: Hilary split from her long term partner John Campisi in the summer after six years together

Swank’s Mediterranean-style house in Pacific Palisades is being listed at US$9.5 million.

But according to friends John is not coping quite so well.

Although it seems she has managed to take her mind off the break-up by dating Laurent and throwing herself back into work.

She is due to play an ailing thirty-something woman who forms a friendship between a self absorbed college student who becomes her part-time caregiver in You're Not You.