Stiles says she and Hall are just friends

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. actress Julia Stiles says she and her married "Dexter" co-star Michael C. Hall are just friends, contradicting speculation they have been dating.

Hall and his wife, Jennifer Carpenter, who also is a "Dexter" cast member, announced this week they had separated after nearly two years of marriage.

"I have absolutely nothing to do with the split between Michael and Jennifer. We are good friends and enjoyed working together," Stiles told UsMagazine.com in a statement Thursday. "This is a personal matter between them, and we should respect their privacy. Although I too prefer to keep my private life private, I felt compelled to dispel the rumors I was somehow the cause for this matter."