KATE WINSLET and new boyfriend SAM MENDES are besotted with each other and are on course to get married, according to Mendes' dad. Peter Mendes says his director son's relationship with newly single Winslet is "very serious" and the couple are spending every spare moment together.

He says, "I would be delighted if Kate and Sam got married. She has had a rough time lately and he has never settled down, so perhaps the time is right. He certainly talks about her more strongly than any of his other girlfriends. "

Peter also adds that Sam is planning to fly out to Los Angeles to join Kate and her daughter Mia after Christmas. The TITANIC (1997) actress' divorce was granted just last week (13th December 2001) on grounds of her ex-husband JIM THREAPLETON's unreasonable behaviour.

Sam, Oscar-winning director of AMERICAN BEAUTY (1999), has previously spoken out against marriage, but his father Peter has phoned him since learning of his love affair with Winslet to urge him to marry her and start a family. He adds, "He's a very decent man who wouldn't trifle with her affections. He's totally genuine. " (LE/WNTMI/ES)

Source: WENN