Kate Hudson has played down reports that she is set to marry her boyfriend, Matt Bellamy.

The pair, who met last year, are expecting their first baby together.

In an interview with InStyle magazine, Hudson, 32, joked that the pair had bypassed marriage to begin a family.

Asked if they planned to tie the knot, she replied: "I wouldn't count it out, but Matthew and I kind of skipped that part and went right to the good stuff!"

The actress, whose films include Almost Famous, also admitted that that had found "happiness" with the singer.

(by Jason Gregory)