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If looks could kill! Charlize Theron shoots daggers at her ex Sean Penn at press conference for their new film The Last Face... as they reunite one year after she 'ghosted him'

Published: 13:14 GMT, 20 May 2016 | Updated: 01:01 GMT, 21 May 2016

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She's denied 'ghosting' fiance Sean Penn after last year's Cannes Film Festival.

But relations did seem decidedly frosty as they promoted their joint film The Last Face in the same spot on Friday, reuniting on the world's stage for the first time since they called off their engagement in 2015.

Charlize Theron and Sean, who ended their relationship after a year-and-a-half together, kept their distance at the film photocall as she took a metaphorical high ground in the form of her show-stopping display, before the actress was seen giving her former partner a less than friendly look at the press conference.

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Shooting daggers: The atmosphere was decidedly frosty between Charlize Theron (left) and Sean Penn (right) as they reunited to promote their new film The Last Face at Cannes Film Festival on Friday

Frosty: Charlize (left) and Sean (right) couldn't have kept a greater distance at the photocall for their joint project

Not together then? The duo buried themselves within their co-stars (from left) Jared Harris, Jean Reno, Javier Bardem, Adele Exarchopoulos and Zubin Cooper

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Awkward: Charlize Theron and Sean, who ended their relationship after a year-and-a-half together, kept their distance at the film photocall

Though Charlize has since clarified her stance clear with words, the distance between her and Sean spoke volumes on Friday afternoon when they buried themselves between cast members Jared Harris, Jean Reno, Javier Bardem and Adele Exarchopoulos in a line-up.

The same went for the press conference later that afternoon when the former flames were seated virtually at opposite ends of a long table as questions came in from film reporters.

Charlize spent time giggling and whispering to co-star Adele and even though Sean appeared to be in a playful mood, the duo exchanged eye contact just once and weren't pictured next to each other at any time.

Reports of her cutting off contact with the actor-turned-director first surfaced in June 2015 and it was suggested that Charlize had ceased all contact with Sean, including text messages and calls, after they spent time together promoting her film Mad Max: Fury Road at Cannes Film Festival.

Red carpet romance: Sean Penn and Charlize Theron at the premiere of Mad Max: Fury Road' during the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival in May 2015

Stuck in the middle with you: Javier was seated between the exes for the frosty press conference after the photocall

Keeping things to herself: Charlize looked in a world of her own as Sean spoke to press

The look: Sean gave Charlize a look as she joined the line-up but they didn't seem to share much of an exchange

Distance between us: Sean and his cast looked a little downbeat as they discussed the film which has received a mauling from Cannes critics

Almost a year to the day: The duo were together on the red carpet on May 14, 2015 at the Mad Max: Fury Road premiere when they were still engaged

The line-up: There was at least two people between the acting duo at all times, in front of the cameras

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Later on that day: Even at the press conference, the duo were not sat together, and the line-up appeared exactly as it had done on the sea front earlier on

No applause? As his ex pass him to take her seat at the conference, Sean failed to raise a smile

Awkward: Sean and Charlize appeared slightly uncomfortable as they cosied up for a brief kiss on the cheek at the premiere

Moving on: The pair seemed to hurry through their exchange as they greeted each other quickly and formally at the premiere later that night

Charlize later denied the 'ghosting' reports in an interview with WSJ magazine in April, when she said: 'There is a need to sensationalize things. When you leave a relationship there has to be some f***ing crazy story or some crazy drama.

'And the f***ing ghosting thing, like literally, I still don't even know what it is. It's just its own beast. We were in a relationship and then it didn't work anymore. And we both decided to separate. That's it.''

It's now almost a year to the day that they appeared as a couple on the red carpet outside Palais des Festivals to celebrate her leading role as Imperator Furiosa in the action epic. They were pictured two days later in Vienna at the Life Ball but that was to be their last joint appearance.

The couple began dating in December 2013 after being friends for decades and Us Weekly reported that they had become secretly engaged during a trip to Paris. An engagement ring was never seen, however, and the two never confirmed the reports.

Eat your heart out, Sean: Charlize looked simply sensational in a frilly dress that showed off her legs with a scalloped hemline

Girlie gossip: Charlize and her co-star Adele whispered to each other as the cameras flashed

Cute duo: The female stars of the film were virtually inseparable in their gorgeous Cannes ensembles

Giddy girls: Though her bond with Sean was almost non-existant, Charlize seemed to have forged a close relationship with Adele

It was also previously claimed that he was ready to adopt her son Jackson though she later dismissed such claims, saying in the aforementioned interview that she told her three-year-old that she was 'a single mom' and he understood that 'Mommy dates, but that he does not have a father'.

Charlize recently spelled out her situation in an interview with GQ magazine, saying: 'You can't control what people say, but, at the end of the day, we made a film. We were in a relationship at the time. When this movie comes out, we're not in a relationship anymore.

'But we made a beautiful film and I can speak for him on this: we both care enough about each other to know we care about this movie together. Do I wish people would respect that and look at the film for what it is? Of course I do, but I know I'm not God and that's probably not going to happen.'

Charlize plays a globe-trotting activist Wren Petersen in the film that Sean directed, and as such, the duo have seen plenty of each other in the last year, despite none of it making the world's press.

Making her entrance: Charlize broke out a winning smile as she walked past her former partner

Simmer down: Director Sean showed a happy demeanor to the cameras and had some jokes with them

So very solo: Director Sean looked cool in trainers and a khaki jacket, brushing off any drama with ease

The space says it all: The exes have been spending plenty of time together as they promote their movie

Another girl on his arm: He was pictured with one of his actresses, Adele, who was in an equally playful mood

Distance: The film centres around the director of an international aid agency (played by Charlize) in Africa, who meets a relief aid doctor (Javier Bardem) amidst a political/social revolution, and together face tough choices

Showing her shape: Actress Adele span around to reveal the gorgeous pattern on her minidress

Slim pins: Adele couldn't stifle a giggle when she made her appearance, though the cameras' attention might have been elsewhere

Who's that girl? French actor Jean Reno poked fun at his co-star as they shared some snapshots of the day

Looking leggy: She teamed the look with black sandals and wore a defiant wide smile on the day

'I saw him yesterday!' she continued in the interview for the June 2016 magazine. 'He's still editing. But people want to create chaos with celebrities, as if [when] there's not drama around it, somehow it doesn't sell.'

Their attention has now turned again to the movie project, which centres around the director of an international aid agency (played by Charlize) in Africa, who meets a relief aid doctor (Javier Bardem) amidst a political/social revolution, and together face tough choices.

So far, the film has received extremely unsavoury reviews from the critics with some hinting that it could have contributed to the downfall of his relationship with Charlize.

Suited and booted! Charlize dazzled in a tailored black suit for the premiere that she teamed with a plunging white shirt

Keeping a distance: Charlize and Sean teamed up for a group photograph but with several other friends separating them. (L-R) Charlize, Javier Bardem, Sean Penn's son Hopper Jack Penn, Adele Exarchopoulos,Sean Penn, Zubin Cooper and Matt Palmieri

Over and out: The pair seemed keen to keep the pleasantries moving forward as they greeted each other before heading off

Stunning in silver! Alessandra Ambrosio dazzled in a silver full skirted gown that on closer inspection featured a pair of unique tights that ran across the length of her lean legs and over the top of her silver stiletto heels

Golden girl! Izabel Goulart showed off every inch of her model frame in a plunging gold gown with a daring thigh high split

Sean defended his project in Cannes on Friday, telling press of the negative reaction:: 'I just finished the film, so it's not a discussion that I think I can be of any value to, I stand behind the film as it is and certainly everyone is going to be well entitled to their response.'

The movie was met by boos from media at the Cannes screening with The Daily Telegraph writing in their review that 'Penn has never made a film this bad before.'

The Hollywood Reporter labelled the effort as 'stunningly self-important but numbingly empty cocktail of romance and insulting refugee porn'.

Lovely in lilac! Lady Victoria Hervey dazzled in an elegant purple gown with a flowing sheer skirt and towering silver heels

Magical in monochrome: Juliette Binoche took the plunge in a cream gown whilst Milla Jovovich also flashed the flesh in a black sheer skirted dress that trailed behind her. Meanwhile, Adele Exarchopoulos dazzled in a white crop top and skirt