Life is clearly imitating art for The OC's Kelly Rowan, who played affluent wife and family matriarch Kirsten 'Kiki' Cohen on the popular teen show which ended in February. The stunning blonde's rep announced this week that she will be a real-life wife to Canadian-born media mogul and billionaire David Thomson, the son of the late Ken Thomson, later this year.

"Their family and friends couldn't be happier for them," says a friend of Kelly's, adding: "She's really happy". The lovebirds first crossed paths when Kelly was working on a film project in Toronto and began dating last year. According to reports, David, who is chairman of Canadian publisher Thomson Corp, wooed the Ottawa-born star with a car, rare jewels and trips abroad.

Their nuptials will probably remain top-secret, though, since David - who is the world's tenth richest person and, with a fortune of $22 billion, the wealthiest Canadian - prefers to stay out of the spotlight. His business endeavors, however, remain more public. He recently agreed to buy the London-based Reuters Group Plc for $17 billion and is currently awaiting shareholder approval.

While it will be the first time down the aisle for Kelly - best known for her role as Adam Brody's mum Kirsten Cohen on the hit TV show The OC during its four-year run - it will be the third time round for 50-year-old David, who has three children from a previous marriage. And the bride-to-be's Canadian fans will be pleased to know the Tinseltown star has moved back to Ontario, taking up house with David in Toronto's upscale Rosedale neighbourhood, where she once attended high school.

While her love life is heating up, Kelly's career shows no sign of cooling down. She recently starred in and produced the TV movie In God's Country and is currently producing Blithe In Virginia with her former OC co-star Melinda Clarke.

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