Biography
Kathryn Bailey Beckinsale (born 26 July1973) is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor(2001), Underworld (2003) and Van Helsing (2004).
Born in London, Beckinsale was the daughter of actor Richard Beckinsale, who died from a heart attack in 1979, and actress Judy Loe . She has a paternal half-sister, Samantha, who is also an actress. Beckinsale's paternal great-grandfather was Burmese, and Beckinsale has said that she was "very oriental-looking" as a child.
Beckinsale attended the private Godolphin and Latymer School, an all-girls independent school in London. In her teens, Beckinsale twice won the W. H. Smith Young Writers' competition — once for three short stories and once for three poems. After a rebellious adolescence, including a period of anorexia and starting a smoking habit, she followed in the footsteps of her parents and began her acting career. Her first role was in One Against the Wind, a television film about World War II that was first aired in 1991. Having gained three language A levels, Beckinsale studied French and Russian literature at New College, Oxford, though she did not finish her degree. She thought that having an academic background studying foreign language and literature would broaden her range of acting roles.
Career
During her first year at Oxford, Beckinsale was offered a part in Kenneth Branagh's big-screen film, Much Ado About Nothing, adapted from the Shakespeare play. She spent her last year of studies in Paris, after which she decided to quit the university and concentrate on her acting career. Kate starred in a 1996 TV film adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. She subsequently appeared in a few low-profile films, including Shooting Fish and The Last Days of Disco (both in 1998). During this time, Beckinsale also appeared in television films and in stage roles, including the well-receivedCold Comfort Farm, opposite British silver and small screen notables Rufus Sewell, Eileen Atkins, Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry.
Her first major American film, Brokedown Palace (1999), was not a commercial success. Soon after, Beckinsale was cast in the 2001 film Pearl Harbor as the female lead, after actress Charlize Theron turned down the part. The film was one of the highest grossing films of its year. In the years following, she appeared in a series of American films that were high-profile, but were given a somewhat poor critical reception, including Serendipity (2001), Underworld (2003) and Van Helsing (2004). Notably, she appeared as Ava Gardner in The Aviator, a role for which she gained 20 pounds.
In 2006, Beckinsale was placed at #23 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World", after being #71 in 2005. She has also been placed at #16 in Maxim's "HOT 100" (2003), #63 in Stuff's "100 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002), and was chosen by the English magazine Hello! as "England’s #1 Beauty", also in 2002.
In January 2006, Beckinsale reprised her role as a vampire in the movie Underworld: Evolution, a sequel to her 2003 film, Underworld, again directed by her husband, Len Wiseman. The film opened at the #1 spot at the box office, grossing over $26 million in its first weekend of release. On January 24, 2006, Beckinsale was featured on the MTV series, Punk'd. The set-up for the segment took place at the Avalon Hotel in Los Angeles.
Also in 2006, Beckinsale appeared in the comedy-drama Click starring Adam Sandler, which opened on June 23. Next, Beckinsale replaced Sarah Jessica Parker in the film Vacancy, released in 2007. Her next role will be in Snow Angels, which is in post-production and scheduled for release some time in 2008.
At Comic-Con 2007, Kate expressed interest in playing Catwoman in the current Christopher Nolan directed Batman films. In April of 2007, during an interview promoting Vacancy, Beckinsale claimed no knowledge of the rumors linking her to a remake of Barbarella. "I was told on the set yesterday, someone said, 'Oh I hear you're doing Barbarella,' one of the grips. So that's the most official it's become. Every woman would consider Barbarella for a moment, but I don't know."
Personal life
Beckinsale and her ex-boyfriend Michael Sheen have a daughter, Lily Mo Sheen (born January 31,1999. She reported in interviews that during her pregnancy with Lily was the only time she's ever stopped smoking. During the Underworld shoot, Beckinsale split from Sheen, who starred as her mortal enemy, Lucian, leader of the Lycans. She became involved with the director of the film, Len Wiseman. In June 2003, Beckinsale became engaged to Wiseman, and the two were married on 9 May 2004 in Bel-Air, California.
Why Is She Famous?
Kate Beckinsale was the darling of British theater and American art house films, but she saved Pearl Harbor, proved that vampires can be sexy in Underworld, wowed Howard Hughesin The Aviator, and scared audiences in Vacancy.
We never thought "sexy" was an appropriate word for Kate Beckinsale; maybe it's because her earlier roles made her look more graceful than ravishing. But ever since we laid eyes on her in 2003's Underworld or the 2006 sequel Underworld: Evolution, we couldn't get over the sight of Kate Beckinsale in black latex.
It's been all uphill since then: She looked delicious in 2004's Van Helsing and successfully channeled sexpot Ava Gardner in 2004's The Aviator. And who wouldn't love her in 2007's Vacancy or Snow Angels? That same year she made AskMen.com's Top 99 Most Desirable Women list too.
Kate Beckinsale isn't only beautiful to look at on-screen, but her acting chops are actually a pleasure to watch as well. She's honed and perfected her skills in such literary productions as Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (1993) with Kenneth Branagh and the film adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma (1996).
Since 2000, she's appeared in more than a dozen movies including Pearl Harbor (2001), Underworld (2002), The Aviator (2004), Click (2006), Vacancy (2007), and Snow Angels (2007).
Beautiful, talented and smart? Throw "sexy accent" into that mix and Kate Beckinsale certainly gets our vote for one of today's most tantalizing screen sirens.
kate beckinsale in brokedown palace
Up next for Kate Beckinsale was a role in the 1995 BBC television satire Cold Comfort Farm, which opened to rave reviews in American art house theaters and was a hit by indie standards. She continued performing in British theater for the next few years, and added some more forgettable films to her resume.
After the indie films Shooting Fish (1997) and The Last Days of Disco (1998), Kate Beckinsale costarred with Claire Danes in 1999's Brokedown Palace.
kate beckinsale in pearl harbor
After starring in James Ivory's The Golden Bowl (2000), Kate Beckinsale joined Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett for the 2001 Bruckheimer-bloated epic Pearl Harbor. And she made her bid to become the next Meg Ryan in the romantic comedy Serendipity in the fall of 2001.
The talented actress was also juggling motherhood during this time, as she had a daughter, Lily Sheen, whose father is actor Michael Sheen, in January 1999.
kate beckinsale in van helsing
After 2002's Laurel Canyon, Kate Beckinsale starred as Selene in Underworld (2003), joined Hugh Jackman in the fight against monsters in Van Helsing (2004) and portrayed Ava Gardner in the Oscar-winning The Aviator (2004).
She married Underworld director Len Wiseman on May 9, 2004.
kate beckinsale in click
In 2005, Kate Beckinsale donned her unforgettable latex outfit once again for Underworld: Evolution. She also appeared in the 2006 comedy Click starring Adam Sandler. In 2007, Kate Beckinsale revisited the darker side we saw in Underworld when she appeared in the 2007 horror flick Vacancy alongside Luke Wilson
resource: AskMen
Commando Kate Beckinsale
March 20 2008 -
Kate Beckinsale caused controversy when she appeared on a US TV show without underwear.
The 'Underworld' actress was a guest on hit series 'Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson' to talk about her new film 'Snow Angels' when she made the shocking revelation.
As she walked onto the stage wearing tight black trousers and a grey top, her microphone pack fell out, and she told Craig: "I can't believe that's fallen out. They wanted to hook it onto the back of my knickers, but I am going commando, so they couldn't do it! So there was nothing to hook them on so it fell out."
Kate's commando stunt is the latest in a series of sexual jokes the 34-year-old beauty has recently made.
The British star - who is married to film director Len Wiseman and has a nine-year-old daughter Lily with former lover Michael Sheen - recently revealed her nickname for her private parts is 'Pharaoh's Tomb'.
She said: "I was called a sl*t when I split up with Michael and began seeing Len, but I've only ever had about three boyfriends. Only a handful of people have seen into the Pharaoh's Tomb!"
The actress also said she would rather eat a woman's vagina than have a sushi dinner.
She laughed: "I can't do raw. I can't do sushi, even. I'd rather eat an actual vagina than that, honestly!"
Kate Beckinsale's Daughter's Threat
March 22 2008 -
Kate Beckinsale's daughter has threatened to move out if she has another baby.The 'Van Helsing' actress revealed Lily, her nine-year-old daughter with former lover Michael Sheen, doesn't want to share her mother with a new sibling.
Kate, who is now married to director Len Wiseman, said: "I don't know if I will have anymore children. It feels like a long age gap. Maybe I would go for it if my daughter wasn't threatening to leave home if I even think about it!
"For now, we've just gotten another cat."
The 34-year-old actress recently revealed she and Lily "gang up" on Len for being American and not understanding English culture.
British beauty Kate said: "We've been married now for three years, and together for at least six, so I'm getting over the shock that he's American. I don't understand how anyone has any fun if they're married to someone from their own culture, because we have an amount of ridiculous fun teasing each other.
"We gang up on him with our English accents, and make him eat Marmite and things."
Kate Beckinsale's ex Love
March 30 2008 -
Kate Beckinsale still loves her ex Michael Sheen.
The 'Van Helsing' star admits Michael - who she has a nine-year-old daughter Lily with - will always holds a special place in her heart.
Kate - who is now married to director Len Wiseman - said: "I love Michael, he is fantastic. It shouldn't have necessarily have gone on forever with us, but he is one of my favourite people ever.
"Michael loves Lily, I love Lily and Len loves Lily. Everyone is nice. I do feel like that has been my major achievement in the last decade."
Kate split from 'Blood Diamond' Michael in March 2003.
The actress met Len on the set of 'Underworld' - in which Michael also starred - that same year and the pair married in 2004.
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