Kate Beckinsale

Infobox actor
name = Kate Beckinsale

---

imagesize = 200px
caption = Beckinsale at the "Live Free or Die Hard" London premiere, June 2007
birthname = Kathryn Bailey Beckinsale
birthdate = birth date and age|1973|7|26
birthplace = London, England
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation = Actress
yearsactive = 1991 - present
spouse = Len Wiseman (2004-present)
website =
academyawards =
baftaawards =
awards =

Kathryn Bailey "Kate" BeckinsaleDas, Lina; Graham, Caroline. [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-47853/Who-Kate-Beckinsale.html Who is Kate Beckinsale?] , "Daily Mail", 2001. Accessed July 2, 2008.] (born 26 July, 1973) is an English actress, known for her roles in the films "Pearl Harbor" (2001), "Underworld" (2003), "Van Helsing" (2004), and "The Aviator" (2004).

Biography

Early life

Born in Finsbury Park, London, [cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1221328/ |title=The Tonight Show with Jay Leno |accessdate=2008-03-17 |work=Interview with Jay Leno ] Beckinsale is 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.cite web | title=Beast in the beauty | work=The Age.com | url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/24/1082719677731.html?from=storyrhs | accessdate=2008-08-25 |publisher=Telegraph Magazine ]

Beckinsale attended the private Godolphin and Latymer School, an all-girls independent school in London. [cite web |url=http://www.godolphinandlatymer.com/content.asp?content=Old+Dolphins+Association |title=Old Dolphins' Association |accessdate=2008-08-25 |work=Godolphin and Latymer School ] In her teens, Beckinsale twice won the W. H. Smith Young Writers' competition — once for three short stories and once for three poems.cite web|title= Kate Beckinsale biography (page 3)|url=http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/kate_beckinsale_biog/2| publisher=Tiscali|accessdate=2008-08-25] 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 leave 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-received "Cold Comfort Farm", opposite British film and television 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). In 2005, she portrayed Ava Gardner in Martin Scorsese's "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 "", 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.cite web | title=Box Office Mojo | work=WEEKEND BOX OFFICE January 20–22, 2006 | url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2006&wknd=03&p=.htm | accessmonthday=July 5 | accessyear=2006] On 24 January, 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 "Click", starring Adam Sandler, which opened on June 23. Next, Beckinsale replaced Sarah Jessica Parker [cite web | title=Kate Beckinsale joins VACANCY | work=Mania Movies | url=http://www.mania.com/kate-beckinsale-joins-vacancy_article_52219.html | accessmonthday=April 14 | accessyear=2007] in the film "Vacancy", released in 2007. Her next role was in "Snow Angels", which was released in 2008.

At Comic-Con 2007, she expressed interest in playing Catwoman in the current Christopher Nolan-directed Batman films. In April 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." [cite web |url=http://www.bigpictureradio.com/2007/04/kate-beckinsale-had-never-heard-of.html |title= Kate Beckinsale Had Never Heard of 'Barbarella' Remake |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071014015317/http://www.bigpictureradio.com/2007/04/kate-beckinsale-had-never-heard-of.html |archivedate=2007-10-14]

Beckinsale is signed to Independent Models in London.

Personal life

Beckinsale and her ex-boyfriend Michael Sheen have a daughter, Lily Mo Sheen (born 31 January, 1999). She reported in interviews that during her pregnancy with Lily was the only time she has 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. [cite journal |year=2003 |month=March |title=Larger than life; Profile: Kate Beckinsale |journal=Sunday Herald, The |accessdate=2007-04-18 ] In June 2003, Beckinsale became engaged to Wiseman, and the two were married on 9 May, 2004 in Bel-Air, California.

She is close friends with Victoria Beckham. [Griffin, Zoe. [http://www.mirror.co.uk/sunday-mirror/2008/03/23/victoria-beckham-s-new-pals-kate-beckinsale-and-eva-longoria-98487-20359705/ Victoria Beckham's new pals] , "Sunday Mirror", March 23, 2008. Accessed July 2, 2008.]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0000295|name=Kate Beckinsale
*tvtome person|id=75276|name=Kate Beckinsale
*people.com

Persondata
NAME= Beckinsale, Kate
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Kathryn Bailey Beckinsale
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actress
DATE OF BIRTH=July 26, 1973
PLACE OF BIRTH=London, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=