Kate Beckinsale (born July 26, 1973) is an English actress. She is the daughter of British television actors Richard Beckinsale and Judy Loe, and her birth name is Kate Beckinsale Loe. Her father died in 1979, at the age of 31. She is considered to be a sex symbol among her fans, possibly because of her unusual, Eurasian appearance, credited to her father being of 1/4 Burmese descent.

Clearly talented from an early age, she won first prizes in several young writing competitions. After finishing school in London, she gradually began acting, thus following in the footsteps of her parents. In 1991 she played a role in a television film about World War II, through which she became widely known by the British public. The film was also broadcast in America at the end of that year. Beckinsale then began studying German, French and Russian at New College, Oxford University, though she did not complete her studies. In interviews she commented that she felt the university background would be better for her than attending a school of performing arts.

During her first year at Oxford, Beckinsale was offered a part in Kenneth Branagh's big-screen film, Much Ado About Nothing, adapted from Shakespeare's famous comedy of the same name. This was her big breakthrough in movies and opened doors to work in several other films, which she did whilst at Oxford. She spent her last year of studies in Paris. There she decided to quit university and concentrate on her acting career. Since then she has played in several major movies, but has also appeared in television films and on the stage.

Beckinsale was selected by Hello Magazine as England's #1 Beauty in 2002.

Beckinsale and Welsh actor Michael Sheen have a daughter, Lily Sheen, but they are no longer together.

In June 2003, she became engaged to the director of Underworld, Len Wiseman, and the two were wed in May 2004 in Bel-Air, California

 

Filmography

• Click (2006) .... Donna Newman
• Underworld: Evolution (2006) .... Selene
  The Aviator (2004) .... Ava Gardner
• Van Helsing (2004) .... Anna Valerious
• Tiptoes (2003) .... Carol
  ... aka Tiny Tiptoes (France)
• Underworld (2003/I) .... Selene
  ... aka Underworld (Germany)
• Laurel Canyon (2002) .... Alex
• Serendipity (2001) .... Sara Thomas
• Pearl Harbor (2001) .... Nurse Lt. Evelyn Johnson
  ... aka Pearl Harbour (UK: promotional title)
• The Golden Bowl (2000) .... Maggie Verver
  ... aka Coupe d'or, La (France)
• Brokedown Palace (1999) .... Darlene Davis
• Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998) (TV) .... Alice
• The Last Days of Disco (1998) .... Charlotte Pingress
• Shooting Fish (1997) .... Georgie
• Emma (1996) (TV) .... Emma Woodhouse
• Haunted (1995) .... Christina Mariell
• Marie-Louise ou la permission (1995) .... Marie-Louise
• Cold Comfort Farm (1995) .... Flora Poste
• Prince of Jutland (1994) .... Ethel
  ... aka Amled, prinsen af Jylland (Denmark)
  ... aka Prinsen af Jylland (Denmark: video title)
  ... aka Royal Deceit (USA)
• Uncovered (1994) .... Julia
  ... aka Tabla de Flandes, La (Spain)
• Much Ado About Nothing (1993) .... Hero
• Anna Lee: Headcase (1993) (TV) .... Thea Hahn
• Rachel's Dream (1992) (TV) .... Rachel
• One Against the Wind (1991) (TV) .... Barbe Lindell
• "Devices and Desires" (1991) (mini) TV Series (voice) .... Young Alice Mair