Kate Winslet's Leonardo brother

Jan 27, 2009, 4:00 GMT

Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are like "brother and sister" says Kate's husband Sam Mendes.

Sam - who directed the stars in new movie 'Revolutionary Road' - revealed Kate and Leonardo were easy to work with because they are such great friends.

He said: "It sounds corny but it's like working with a brother and sister.

"They giggle the whole time, they have the same sense of humour and they have the same approach to work. They tease each other and they make each other laugh a lot and they're very, very professional when they get in front of the camera.

"It didn't seem as if there was a 10-year gap after they were in 'Titanic' because they've stayed friends all the time and lived through each other's marriages and girlfriends and other movies."

The 43-year-old Oscar-winning director went on to praise Leonardo, 34, for his acting ability.

He added to Britain's Telegraph newspaper: "He just inhabited the role and brought all his 15 years experience of being a boyfriend and a lover and a partner to the table and I think it's on the screen.

"Here's a man who does terrible things - he sleeps with another woman, he lies to his wife and yet Leo manages to maintain our sympathy because he has huge skill as an actor."