Born July 26, 1973 in London, England.
Kate Beckinsale was the daughter of actress, Judy Loe, and
comedy actor, Richard Beckinsale. As a child, however, Kate
attended private school, receiving her grade and primary education
at London's Godolphin and Latymer and Flexlands Private School
where she studied ballet throughout her primary education.
She developed a deep love for literature and took to reading
Russian, German, and French novels upon completing her A-levels
for each. Furthermore, Miss Beckinsale was twice the recipient
of the W.H. Smith Young Writer's Award, having multiple poems
and short stories published during her youth.
In 1991 Beckinsale had a breakthrough with her WWII television
movie "One Against the Wind". That same year Beckinsale would
enroll in New College Oxford to study French and Russian literature.
However she would leave school to pursue an acting career
after her role in Kenneth Branagh's "Much Ado About Nothing "(1993)
prompted Beckinsale to catch the “acting bug”. She would work
on three more films and study abroad in Paris, France before
finally leaving Oxford in the Spring of 1994. Having never
completed her degree Beckinsale has stated, "I dropped out
of Oxford, and now I only speak Russian with the woman who
gives me a bikini-wax. See what Hollywood does to you?"
In 1995 she appeared in the BBC satire “Cold Comfort Farm”
which received solid reviews overseas in America. Meanwhile
Beckinsale joined the Thelma Holts Theatre Company and toured
England while performing in Anton Checkov's "The Seagull" (1995).
Her film breakthrough however, came from her role in 1995's
HAUNTED where Beckinsale switched from innocent maiden to
tempting siren. In 1996 she landed a role in the British production
of EMMA and starred as Georgie in “Shooting Fish”.
In 1999 she had a daughter, Lily, with actor Michael Sheen
(she would later marry Len Wiseman in 2004). After the birth
of her daughter however, Beckinsale gradually made a transition
to American film. She landed the role in the 2001 romantic
comedy SERENDIPITY starring opposite John Cusack. The same
year she also landed the lead female role in the WWII blockbuster
PEARL HARBOR, after originally cast Charlize Theron opted
for another film. In 2003 she appeared in UNDERWORLD and
in 2004 she landed the role of a vampire slayer in VAN HELSING
and as Ava Gardner for THE AVIATOR.
Undeniably attractive, Beckinsale was selected by Hello Magazine
as England's #1 Beauty and as #63/100 for Stuff’s "100 Sexiest
Women in the World" in 2002. It’s obvious that with Beckinsale
you get the complete package of brains and beauty. She’s perfect
even in her flaws, and rather philosophic having once stated
"No one is more enslaved than a slave who doesn't think they're
enslaved". Now what do you think about that?
Kate Beckinsale's notable credits include...
