Mary Steenburgen revealed to E! News that before Lily Collins and her son Charlie McDowell met, she knew they were meant to be.

Mary Steenburgen’s thoughts on her daughter-in-law Lily Collins are tous cute.

Three years after her son Charlie McDowell—who she shares with ex Malcolm McDowell—married the Emily in Paris actress, Mary revealed when she knew the two were perfect for one another. And it was before they even had a chance to meet.

“To be honest, I met my daughter-in-law before he did,” the 71-year-old told E! News in an exclusive interview at the AFI premiere of Charlie’s movie The Summer Book Oct. 27, “and I looked at her and thought, ‘You would just be so amazing with my son.’”

And her husband Ted Danson can attest to her premonition. “But I said nothing to him,” Mary said of her son, adding that instead, “I said it to my husband.”

Indeed, the Step Brothers actress decided to put a pin in it to let Charlie and Lily’s romance take its own course.

“I met her in Jane Fonda‘s 80th birthday party, and I fell in love with her,” she explained. “And then when he told me who it was that he was dating, I zipped it!”

There’s no doubt that Lily, daughter of Genesis drummer Phil Collins and business owner Jill Tavelman, is well-loved by her in-laws.

One year after making their relationship Instagram official, the Silicon Valley director and To the Bone actress jumped the broom in an intimate Colorado ceremony in September 2021. And Mary—who is also mom to Lilly Walton, 43—couldn’t help but fawn over the newlyweds.

“Charlie, my son, and Lily, my daughter-in-law!!! Thank you for letting us all bask in the sheer beauty of your love for each other,” Mary wrote on Instagram at the time. “My heart is overflowing and it almost feels like the last few days were some sort of beautiful dream. But it is all real, and I feel like the luckiest mother in the world.”

While the couple are notoriously private about their relationship, Lily, 35, recently shared a sweet Instagram post for the couple’s three year anniversary.

“Happy anniversary to the man who makes me laugh harder than anyone,” she gushed in the caption of a carousel of photos posted Sept. 4. “Three years held in your arms has been the greatest gift.”

The sweet black and white photos pictured Lily and Charlie, 41, clad in jeans and white t-shirts as they hugged and gave each other affectionate grins.

“Barefaced and in a basic tee, you make me feel like the most special human on the planet,” she continued. “I adore you @charliemcdowell. More than I know how to say. Here’s to countless incredible moments together (plus twinning photoshoots). And to think, the best is still to come…”