Sylvester Stallone's ROCK BALBOA character has a new lady love in the shape of Irish thespian GERALDINE HUGHES.

The actress, whose one-woman show, BELFAST BLUES, has been a big hit in New York, will play the ageing boxer's girlfriend in Stallone's sixth Rocky movie, ROCKY BALBOA.

Hughes will recreate the role of LITTLE MARIE, who appeared briefly in the first Rocky film, according to website MovieHole.net.

The new film also stars Milo Ventimiglia, real-life boxer ANTONIO TARVER, Mr T and Burt Young.