Kate Winslet continues to gush about Leo, says he’s more handsome than ever

Every time we see Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet together, a little part of us melts. We’re transported back to 1997, when they were young actors in their twenties working on a little film called Titanic. We fell in love with them, with their characters and with their relationship, both on and off screen.

After Titanic wrapped, Leo and Kate remained close friends. They’ve acted together since, in Revolutionary Road, and always manage to find each other on red carpets and at award ceremonies. And they always have the kindest things to say about each other.

“He’s a solid, loyal person,” Kate told PEOPLE. “He’s a great friend, he always has been, and not just to me, but to everyone around him. He still has friends he had when we made Titanic.”

Her praise couldn’t come at a better time—after all, we’re smack dab in the middle of award season, and Leo is having a great one. He won the Best Actor statues for his work in The Revenant at the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards. There’s a general consensus that this is “Leo’s year,” and Kate agrees, referencing the undeniable buzz in the air that he’s going to win the Oscar as well.

“He’s a stronger actor in this moment than he’s ever been,” the actress continued. “I think he’s more handsome than he’s ever been. And he feels, to me, the most settled he’s ever felt, in himself, right now, which is quite strange, really, given that there’s a lot happening around him.”

We’re just glad to hear that Leo is still the same old Leo—and that he still somehow manages to be his old self while still getting better and better. He truly is the finest of the fine wines that only get better with time.

“In many ways he hasn’t changed a bit, but in other ways he absolutely has changed,” Kate said. “He’s quite centered and calm, and that’s different to the way he was 20 years ago.”