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Kate Beckinsale
Kate Beckinsale
Kate Beckinsale
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Kathrin Romany Beckinsale (born 26 July 1973)[1][2][3][4] is an English actress. The only child of actors Richard Beckinsale and Judy Loe, she debuted in the series premiere of the 1975 daytime drama Couples.

Key Information

In 1993, she made her theatrical film debut with a role in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation Much Ado About Nothing whilst studying at the University of Oxford. She played leading roles in numerous British costume dramas such as Prince of Jutland (1994), Cold Comfort Farm (1995), Emma (1996), and The Golden Bowl (2000). She also starred in Pearl Harbor (2001), Serendipity (2001), The Aviator (2004), and Click (2006).

Since taking the role of Selene in the Underworld film series (2003–2016), Beckinsale became known for her work in action films, including Van Helsing (2004), Whiteout (2009), Contraband (2012), Total Recall (2012), and Jolt (2021) while also earning praise for her roles in the small-scale dramas Snow Angels (2007), Nothing but the Truth (2008), Everybody's Fine (2009), Love & Friendship (2016), and The Only Living Boy in New York (2017). She returned to television in the limited series The Widow (2019).

Early life and education

[edit]

Kathrin Romany Beckinsale was born on 26 July 1973 in the Chiswick district of London,[5][6] the only child of actors Richard Beckinsale and Judy Loe.[7] Her half-sister from her father's earlier marriage is actress Samantha Beckinsale.[7] Her father was partly of Burmese descent.[8][9] Her parents did not marry until 1977, prior to Beckinsale starting nursery school,[10] when she made her first television appearance at age four, in an episode of This Is Your Life, dedicated to her father.[11] When she was five, her father died suddenly of a heart attack, aged 31. She was deeply traumatised by the loss and "started expecting bad things to happen".[12][7]

Her widowed mother moved in with director Roy Battersby when Beckinsale was nine and she was brought up alongside his four sons and daughter.[13] She had a close relationship with her stepfather,[7] who was a member of the Workers Revolutionary Party during her youth.[14] She helped to sell The News Line, a Trotskyist newspaper, as a little girl and has said the household phone was tapped following Battersby's blacklisting by the BBC.[14] Family friends included Ken Loach and Vanessa Redgrave.[14]

Beckinsale was educated at Godolphin and Latymer School, an independent school for girls in Hammersmith, West London, and was involved with the Orange Tree Youth Theatre.[15] She was twice a winner of the WH Smith Young Writers Award for both fiction and poetry.[16] She has described herself as a "late bloomer": "All of my friends were kissing boys and drinking cider way before me. I found it really depressing that we weren't making camp fires and everyone was doing stuff like that."[17] She had a nervous breakdown and developed anorexia aged 15,[18] and underwent Freudian psychoanalysis for four years.[7]

Beckinsale studied Russian at school[19] and read French and Russian literature at New College, Oxford, and was later described by her contemporary Victoria Coren Mitchell, as "whip-clever, slightly nuts, and very charming."[20] She became friends with Roy Kinnear's daughter Kirsty.[21] She was involved with the Oxford University Dramatic Society, most notably being directed by fellow student Tom Hooper in a production of A View from the Bridge at the Oxford Playhouse.[22] As a Modern Languages student, she was required to spend her third year abroad, and studied in Paris. She then quit university to focus on her burgeoning acting career: "It was getting to the point where I wasn't enjoying either thing enough because both were very high pressure."[7] Beckinsale has stated she would like to complete her studies at the University of Oxford.[23][24]

When Beckinsale was fifty-one, her mother died of stage-four cancer, aged 78. Beckinsale said: "She died the night of July 15 in my arms after immeasurable suffering."[25]

Career

[edit]

1991–1997: Early acting roles

[edit]

Beckinsale decided at a young age she wanted to be an actress: "I grew up immersed in film. My family were in the business. I quickly realised that my parents seemed to have much more fun in their work than any of my friends' parents."[26] She was inspired by the performances of Jeanne Moreau.[27] She made her television debut in 1991 with a small part in an ITV adaptation of P. D. James' Devices and Desires.[28] In 1992, she starred alongside Christopher Eccleston in "Rachel's Dream," a 30‑minute Channel 4 short.[29] In 1993, she appeared in the pilot of the ITV detective series, Anna Lee, starring Imogen Stubbs.[30]

In 1993, Beckinsale landed the role of Hero in Kenneth Branagh's big-screen adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. It was filmed in Tuscany, Italy, during a summer holiday from the University of Oxford. She attended the film's Cannes Film Festival premiere and remembered it as an overwhelming experience. "Nobody even told me I could bring a friend!"[17] "I had Doc Martens boots on, and I think I put the flower from the breakfast tray in my hair."[31] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone was won over by her "lovely" performance.[32] Vincent Canby of The New York Times noted that she and Robert Sean Leonard "look right and behave with a certain naive sincerity, although they often seem numb with surprise at hearing the complex locutions they speak."[33] The film grossed over $22 million at the box office.[34]

She made three other films while at university. In 1994, she appeared as Christian Bale's love interest in Prince of Jutland, a film based on the Danish legend which inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet,[35] and starred in the murder mystery Uncovered.[36] In 1995, while studying in Paris, she filmed the French language Marie-Louise ou la permission.[37]

Shortly after leaving Oxford University in 1995, Beckinsale starred in Cold Comfort Farm, as Flora Poste, a newly orphaned 1930s socialite sent to live with distant family members in rural England. The John Schlesinger-directed film was an adaptation of Stella Gibbons's novel and also featured Joanna Lumley, Eileen Atkins, Ian McKellen, Rufus Sewell and Stephen Fry. Beckinsale was initially considered too young, but was cast after she wrote a pleading letter to the director.[38] Emanuel Levy of Variety was reminded of "the strength of a young Glenda Jackson and the charm of a young Julie Christie."[39] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times classed the actress as "yet another of those effortlessly skilled British beauties who light up the screen."[40] Janet Maslin of The New York Times felt she played the role "with the perfect snippy aplomb."[41] The film grossed over $5 million at the US box office.[42]

Also in 1995, she appeared in Haunted, a ghost story in which Derek Elley of Variety felt she "holds the screen, with both physical looks and verbal poise."[43] 1995 saw Beckinsale's first professional stage appearance, as Nina in The Seagull at Theatre Royal, Bath. She became romantically involved with costar Michael Sheen after meeting during play rehearsals.[44] She later said: "I was all revved up to feel very intimidated. It was my first-ever play and my mother had cut out reviews of him in previous productions. And then he walked in ... It was almost like, 'God, well, I'm finished now. That's it, then.'... He's the most outrageously talented person I've ever met."[45] Irving Wardle of The Independent felt that "the casting, including Michael Sheen's volcanic Kostya and Kate Beckinsale's steadily freezing Nina, is mainly spot-on."[46] In early 1996, she starred in two further plays, Sweetheart at the Royal Court Theatre[47] and Clocks and Whistles at the Bush Theatre.[48]

Beckinsale next starred in an ITV adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, playing Emma to Mark Strong's Mr Knightley and Samantha Morton's Harriet Smith. "You shouldn't necessarily like Emma," Beckinsale has said of her character. "You do love her, but in the way the family of a young girl could be exasperated by her outrageous behaviour and still love her."[38] The programme was aired in autumn 1996, just months after Gwyneth Paltrow had starred in a film adaptation of the same story.[38] Caryn James of The New York Times felt that while "Ms. Beckinsale's Emma is plainer looking than Ms. Paltrow's," she is "altogether more believable and funnier."[49] Jonathan Brown of The Independent has described Beckinsale's interpretation as "the most enduring modern performance" as Emma.[50]

In 1997, Beckinsale appeared opposite Stuart Townsend in the comedy Shooting Fish, one of the most commercially successful British films of that year.[51][52] "I'd just had my wisdom teeth out," Beckinsale later recalled of the initial audition. "I was also on very strong painkillers, so it was not the most conventional of meetings."[53] Elley wrote of "an incredibly laid-back performance."[54] Thomas felt she "just glows as an aristocrat facing disaster with considerable aplomb."[55] She narrated Austen's Emma for Hodder & Stoughton AudioBooks[56] and Diana Hendry's "The Proposal" for BBC Radio 4.[57][58] Also in 1997, she played Juliet to Michael Sheen's Romeo, in an audio production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by Sheen.[59]

In Beckinsale's last film before her move to the US, she starred as Alice in Channel 4's Alice Through the Looking-Glass, released in July 1998.[60]

1998–2002: Move to Hollywood

[edit]

At this point in her career, Beckinsale began to seek work in the United States, something she has said wasn't "a conscious decision... My boyfriend was in a play on Broadway so that's why we ended up in New York, and my auditions happened to be for American films."[61] She starred opposite Chloë Sevigny in 1998's The Last Days of Disco. The Whit Stillman film focused on a group of mostly Ivy League and Hampshire College graduates socialising in the Manhattan disco scene of the early 1980s. Beckinsale's American accent was widely praised.[62][63][64] Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times felt her role as the bossy Charlotte was "beautifully played."[65] Todd McCarthy of Variety was unimpressed by the film but noted that "compensations include Beckinsale, looking incredible in a succession of black dresses, whose character can get on your nerves even if the actress doesn't."[66] Her performance earned her a London Critics' Circle Film Award.[67] The film grossed $3 million worldwide.[68]

In 1999, Beckinsale appeared opposite Claire Danes in Brokedown Palace, a drama about two young Americans forced to deal with the Thai justice system on a post-graduation trip abroad. A then 26-year-old Beckinsale played a young girl.[69] Danes had hoped to become friends with Beckinsale during the shoot but found her "complicated" and "prickly."[70] McCarthy said the leads "confirm their status as two of the young actresses on the scene today most worth watching," finding Beckinsale "very effective at getting across layered character traits and emotions."[71] "Danes and Beckinsale are exceptionally talented young actresses," said Thomas, but "unfortunately, the script's seriously underdeveloped context defeats their considerable efforts at every turn."[72] Stephen Holden of The New York Times felt that Beckinsale's character "never comes into focus."[73] The film was a box office failure.[74]

2000's The Golden Bowl marked Beckinsale's first role following the birth of her daughter. The Merchant/Ivory production was based on the novel by Henry James and also starred Uma Thurman and Jeremy Northam. Beckinsale's partner, Michael Sheen, hit Northam on the film set after he followed Beckinsale to her trailer to scold her for forgetting a line.[75] Holden noted "the most satisfying of the four-lead performances belong to the British cast members, Ms. Beckinsale and Mr. Northam, who are better than their American counterparts at layers of emotional concealment," adding each beat of Beckinsale's performance "registers precisely."[76] Thomas felt her performance would take her to "a new career level."[77] Andrew Sarris of The New York Observer asserted that she "comes close to capturing the sublimity of Maggie, despite the obvious fact that no movie can capture the elegant copiousness of James' prose."[78] The film grossed over $5 million worldwide.[79]

Beckinsale rose to fame in 2001 with a leading role in the war film Pearl Harbor, as a nurse torn between two pilots, played by Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett. She was drawn to the project by the script: "It's so unusual these days to read a script that has those old-fashioned values to it. Not morals, but movie values. It's a big, sweeping epic....You just never get the chance to do that."[80] Director Michael Bay initially had doubts about casting the actress: "I wasn't sure about her at first...she wore black leather trousers in her screen test and I thought she was a little nasty...it was easy to think of this woman as a slut."[81] He eventually decided to hire her because she wasn't "too beautiful. Women feel disturbed when they see someone's too pretty."[82] He asked her to lose weight during filming.[83]

In a 2004 interview, the actress noted that his comments were "upsetting"[84] and said she wore leather trousers because "it was snowing out. It wasn't exactly like I had my nipple rings in."[85] She felt grateful that she had not had to deal with such criticism at a younger age: "If I had come on to a movie set at [a younger] age and someone had said, 'You're a bit funny-looking, can you go on a diet?' – I might have jumped off a building. I just didn't have the confidence to put that into perspective at the time."[81] However, speaking in 2011, she said she was "very fond" of Bay.[86]

Pearl Harbor received negative reviews. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly praised "the avid eyed, ruby lipped Kate Beckinsale, the rare actress whose intelligence gives her a sensual bloom; she's like Parker Posey without irony."[87] A. O. Scott of The New York Times noted that "Mr. Affleck and Ms. Beckinsale do what they can with their lines, and glow with the satiny shine of real movie stars."[88] However, Mike Clark of USA Today felt that the "usually appealing Kate Beckinsale" is "inexplicably submerged – like her hospital colleagues – under heaps of tarty makeup that even actresses of the era didn't wear."[89] The film was a commercial success, grossing $449 million worldwide.[90]

Beckinsale's second film appearance of 2001 was in the romantic comedy Serendipity, as the love interest of John Cusack. It was filmed directly after Pearl Harbor and Beckinsale found it "a real relief to return to something slightly more familiar."[61] Turan praised the "appealing and believable" leads, adding that Beckinsale "reinforces the strong impression she made in Cold Comfort Farm, The Golden Bowl, and The Last Days of Disco" after "recovering nicely" from her appearance in the much-maligned Pearl Harbor.[91] Claudia Puig of USA Today felt that "Beckinsale's talents haven't been mined as effectively in any other film since Cold Comfort Farm."[92] McCarthy found her "energetic and appealing."[93] Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times described her as "luminous but determined."[94] In an uncomplimentary review of the film, Roger Ebert described her as "a good actress, but not good enough to play this dumb."[95] The film grossed over $77 million at the worldwide box office.[96]

In 2002, Beckinsale starred in Lisa Cholodenko's Laurel Canyon, as a strait-laced academic who finds herself increasingly attracted to her free-spirited future mother-in-law. The independent film was another opportunity for Beckinsale to work with Christian Bale, her Prince of Jutland co‑star. She found their sex scene awkward because she knew Bale well: "If it was a stranger, it would have been easier."[97] While Frances McDormand's performance as Bale's mother was widely praised, Beckinsale received negative reviews. Holden found the film "superbly acted, with the exception of Ms. Beckinsale, whose tense, colourless Alex conveys no inner life."[98] Critic Lisa Schwarzbaum was unimpressed by the "tedious" characters and criticised "the fussy performances of Bale and Beckinsale" in particular.[99] The film grossed over $4 million worldwide.[100]

2003–2006: Action roles

[edit]
Beckinsale at the 53rd San Sebastián International Film Festival, 2005

Beckinsale became known as an action star after playing a vampire in 2003's Underworld. The film was markedly different from her previous work, and Beckinsale has said she was grateful for the change of pace after appearing in "a bunch of period stuff and then a bunch of romantic comedies,"[101] adding that "It was quite a challenge for me to play an action heroine and pull off all that training when [in real life] I can't catch a ball if it's coming my way."[102] The film received negative to mixed reviews but was a surprise box-office hit and has gained a cult following.[103] Also in 2003, she starred in the little seen Tiptoes with Gary Oldman and Matthew McConaughey.[104]

In 2004, Beckinsale starred in the action horror film Van Helsing. She was "so surprised" to be appearing in her second action film in two years. "It just seemed like a very good role."[105] Beckinsale had just separated from her long-term boyfriend Michael Sheen at the time of filming and appreciated the warm atmosphere created on set by director Stephen Sommers and co‑star Hugh Jackman: "I really did find that working with people like Stephen and Hugh made it possible to get through what I was going through."[106] The film grossed over $120 million at the US box office and over $300 million worldwide, but it was not well-reviewed.[107][108] Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle described her as "a pretty actress doing her best to maintain dignity, vainly trying to craft a feminist statement from a filmmaker's whimsy."[109] Rex Reed of The New York Observer felt she was "desperately in need of a new agent."[110]

Also in 2004, Beckinsale portrayed Ava Gardner in Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator. Scorsese decided to cast Beckinsale because, "I've always liked her. I've seen all her work, and I was glad that she agreed to audition."[111] Beckinsale's performance received mixed reviews. Ken Tucker of New York Magazine said she played the part "in full va-va-voom blossom."[112] LaSalle felt that she manages "to convince us that Ava was one of the great broads of all time."[113] However, Clark described it as "the one performance that doesn't come off (though Beckinsale has the requisite beauty)."[114] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian stated that "Gardner's rich, voluptuous sexiness is completely absent as Beckinsale sleepwalks through the role as if she was advertising perfume."[115] The film grossed over $213 million worldwide.[116]

In 2006, Beckinsale reprised her role as Selene in the successful vampire sequel Underworld: Evolution, directed by her husband, Len Wiseman.[117] It was the first time she had "been involved with a movie from the moment it's a germ of an idea right through the whole editing process."[118] Her daughter had a small role as the younger Selene.[118] The film was a box office success, grossing $111 million worldwide.[119] Beckinsale's second film appearance of 2006 was opposite Adam Sandler and Christopher Walken in Click, a comedy about an overworked family man who discovers a magical remote control that allows him to control time. The opportunity to play a mother "was one of the things that was attractive to me" about the part.[120] It was highly profitable, grossing $237 million worldwide against a production budget of $82.5 million.[121]

2007–2008: Focus on small-scale drama

[edit]
Beckinsale at the London premiere of Live Free or Die Hard, June 2007

Beckinsale then made a return to smaller-scale projects: "My experience is that I sort of stepped away from the independent movies and did a couple of big movies. But that's not necessarily how it's perceived by everybody else, which I do understand."[122] "I enjoy an action movie as much as the next person [but] it's not something that I would like to do solely."[123] She explained that she had originally decided to appear in Underworld because she felt typecast in classical roles – it was "assumed that I use a chamber pot and wear bloomers"[124] – but that her action career "kind of took off a little too much."[125]

In 2007, Beckinsale starred opposite Sam Rockwell in the independent drama Snow Angels, based on the novel by Stewart O'Nan. The harrowing film, in which she played an overwhelmed single mother, put Beckinsale "in kind of a tough place." "I did have my kid, my husband and, in fact, my ex was around a lot, so it was very nice to come home to my people whom I love."[123] Puig felt "Beckinsale gives her best performance in years."[126] Richard Corliss of Time described it as "her sharpest work yet."[127] However, Scott felt that "her skill and discipline cannot overcome the sense that she is an exotic species transplanted into this grim ecosystem. Hard as she works to convince us otherwise, it's a stretch to believe that a woman with the kind of poised confidence in her own beauty she manifests would wind up with an underachieving mouth breather like Glenn."[128] The film grossed solely $414,404 worldwide.[129]

Beckinsale at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival

Also in 2007, Beckinsale appeared alongside Luke Wilson in Vacancy, a thriller set in an isolated motel. Sarah Jessica Parker was originally cast in the part, but she dropped out before filming began.[130] Bradshaw felt "Wilson and Beckinsale have the chops for scary movies."[131] Gleiberman noted "Luke Wilson, with his hangdog defensive mopiness, and Kate Beckinsale, all sexy severity, are ideally matched as a couple who hate each other."[132] However, Manohla Dargis of The New York Times was unimpressed, referring to Beckinsale as "the reigning queen of the bland B's."[133] The film was profitable, grossing $35 million worldwide against a production budget of $19 million.[134]

In 2008, Beckinsale appeared in Winged Creatures, a film about how six different witnesses cope with the aftermath of a shooting. Beckinsale played a waitressing single mother in an ensemble cast which included Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, and Forest Whitaker. "It was a really, really nice experience but it was quick," said Beckinsale of the filming process. "I just felt a bit like I was shot through a cannon."[123] Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times felt she played the role "with a white trash verve" and found her character's "raw ache for that someone with money and respectability is palpable."[135] However, Dargis felt that Beckinsale and her cast mates have a "tough time filling out characters that are at best abstractions of grief and often just clichés."[136] The film received a very limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles; it was released simultaneously on DVD.[137]

Also in 2008, Beckinsale starred in Nothing but the Truth, as a journalist who refuses to reveal her source. The film, co‑starring Vera Farmiga and Matt Dillon, was inspired by the case of Judith Miller. As part of her research for the role, "I spent some time at The L.A. Times with some female reporters, and I spoke to Judith Miller about her experience....I really researched the hell out of that one and it was an amazingly fulfilling, brilliant experience."[123] Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post asserted that Beckinsale and Farmiga played "two of the most fascinating female movie characters to hit screens in a long while, and they've been brought to life by two gifted actresses, each working at the top of her game."[138] Beckinsale received a Critic's Choice Award nomination for her performance.[139] The film never received a full theatrical release after the distributor filed for bankruptcy[140] and the film grossed solely $186,702 worldwide.[141] "I have prayed – prayed – for film companies to go bankrupt on films I've made, and then this happens on the one I love," said Beckinsale. "Usually it's the ones you're most embarrassed about that are on the side of every bus."[142]

2009–2015: Return to action films

[edit]

In 2009, Beckinsale starred in the comic-book adaption Whiteout, as a US Marshal tasked with investigating a murder in Antarctica. It was filmed in Manitoba, Canada.[125] She found the action scenes less physically demanding than those in Underworld because "three pairs of trousers and a parka gives you a bit more protection than the latex suit."[125] The film was critically panned and a box office failure, failing to recoup its budget.[143] With critics consensus: Beckinsale is as lovely as ever, and does her best with the material, but moribund pacing and an uninspired plot leave Whiteout in the cold.[143] She also made a brief cameo in the prequel Underworld: Rise of the Lycans; she appeared in flashforwards composed of footage from 2003's Underworld.[144]

Also in 2009, Beckinsale starred in the family drama Everybody's Fine alongside Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, and Rockwell, her Snow Angels costar. Beckinsale was excited by the opportunity to work with De Niro, whom she had first encountered "years and years ago when I just had Lily and he was putting together a reading of The Good Shepherd.."[122] Everybody's Fine was a box office flop, failing to recoup its production budget.[145] In May 2010, Beckinsale sat on the nine-member 2010 Cannes Film Festival jury, chaired by director Tim Burton.[146] Unable to find a script she felt passionate about, Beckinsale kept a low profile in 2010 and 2011, opting to spend time with her daughter.[147]

Beckinsale returned to acting in 2012 with appearances in three action films. Beckinsale first appeared in the action thriller Contraband. She had a supporting role as the wife of Mark Wahlberg's character, a former criminal who gets forced back into a life of crime after his family members are threatened. The film was directed by Baltasar Kormákur, who also starred in the Icelandic language version of the film, Reykjavík-Rotterdam.[148] The San Francisco Chronicle felt Beckinsale was "stuck in a bit of a thankless role as the victimised wife, but she does try to infuse a harder edge to the character."[149] The Hollywood Reporter stated that "Beckinsale, her innate classiness calibrated down a few notches, has little to do but be supportive, worried and, eventually, besieged."[150] Entertainment Weekly felt that the "woman-in-peril stuff is second-rate, giving off a whiff of exploitation"[151] while Variety found the repeated violence towards Beckinsale's character disturbing.[152] The film had a production budget of $25 million and grossed over $96 million worldwide.[153]

Beckinsale next reprised her role as Selene in the fourth instalment of the vampire franchise Underworld: Awakening.[144] The franchise was initially conceived of as a trilogy and Beckinsale was not "intending to do another one" but was convinced by the quality of the script.[154] The Hollywood Reporter noted that "when she's not actually fighting, her performance consists of little more than striding purposefully toward or away from the camera."[155] The Los Angeles Times remarked that she "finally manages to perfect the monotone delivery she'd been honing for the series' first two entries."[156] The film had a production budget of $70 million and grossed over $160 million worldwide.[157][158]

Also in 2012, Beckinsale appeared as the wife of a factory worker in the sci-fi action remake Total Recall, directed by her husband Len Wiseman.[159] She has said Wiseman joined the project because he was unable to receive studio financing for an original sci-fi idea: "You're constantly finding yourself having to defend doing a remake when you didn't really want to make one in the first place."[147] The film received mainly negative reviews.[160] Variety found her performance "one-note" while The Hollywood Reporter described her as "one-dimensional."[161][162] USA Today remarked that she "spends much of the movie strutting down hallways and looking relentlessly, though blandly, nasty."[163] The film grossed $198 million against a production budget of over $125 million.[164][165]

In 2013, Beckinsale starred in the legal thriller The Trials of Cate McCall opposite Nick Nolte and James Cromwell.[166] The film received negative reviews and was released as a Lifetime movie.[167][168] She next appeared in the little-seen psychological thriller Stonehearst Asylum, loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether."[169][170] A lukewarm critical reception greeted the film upon its DVD release; Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times said Beckinsale was "emoting as if an Oscar nomination depended on it"[171] while Dennis Harvey of Variety found her performance "overwrought."[172] In 2014, she provided the voice for Queen Ayrenn, a character in The Elder Scrolls Online video game.[173]

Also in 2014, Beckinsale starred in the psychological thriller The Face of an Angel alongside Daniel Brühl. The film, directed by Michael Winterbottom, was inspired by the case of Meredith Kercher.[174] Jesse Hassenger of The A.V. Club felt her "charismatic" performance was wasted.[175] Also in 2015, she starred alongside Simon Pegg in the poorly received British comedy Absolutely Anything, as an author agency employee and the love interest of a man (Pegg) chosen by four aliens to do anything he wants.[176] Tom Huddleston of Time Out said her character "is never really developed – which is perhaps a blessing, because her cut-glass-posh performance is almost as grating as Pegg's."[177] A fan of Monty Python growing up, in 2014 Beckinsale appeared on the fourth episode of Monty Python's Best Bits (Mostly) where she spoke of her favourite Python comedy sketch.[178]

2016–present: Love & Friendship and beyond

[edit]
Beckinsale at Comicpalooza 2016

In the 2016 romantic comedy Love & Friendship, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Beckinsale reunited with her Last Days of Disco collaborators Stillman and Sevigny. Based on Jane Austen's Lady Susan, the film revolved around her role as the title character, a wry and calculating widow, as she pursues a wealthy and hapless man for marriage originally intended for her daughter, though she eventually marries him herself. The film was universally acclaimed by critics[179] and found commercial success in arthouse cinemas.[180] Justin Chang of Variety described the role as "one of the most satisfying screen roles of her career [...] Beckinsale magnetizes the screen in a way that naturally underscores how far ahead of everyone else she is: an effect that doesn't always work to the movie's advantage."[181] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter remarked, "There aren't great depths to the role, but Beckinsale excels with the long speeches and in defining her character as a very self-aware egoist."[182]

Also in the year, she starred in the horror film The Disappointments Room, opposite Mel Raido, both playing a couple in a new house that contains a hidden room with a haunted past. The film was heavily panned by critics and flopped at the box office;[183] it only made $1.4 million in its opening weekend, and a total of $2.4 million in North America.[184] Christian Holub of Entertainment Weekly concluded that "[m]ost of the film is just Beckinsale walking around looking worried,"[185] while Joe Leydon of Variety found her "credible and compelling [...] except for when she's trying way too hard in a rather unfortunate scene that calls for drunken ranting."[186] In late 2016, Beckinsale returned as Selene in the fifth instalment of the Underworld franchise, Underworld: Blood Wars, which grossed $81.1 million worldwide.[187][188]

Beckinsale starred opposite Pierce Brosnan, Callum Turner, and Jeff Bridges in Marc Webb's romantic coming-of-age drama The Only Living Boy in New York (2017),[189] as a book editor and the mistress of a publisher whose son sees his life upended. Reviews of the film were mediocre, while it found a limited audience in theatres.[190] The A.V. Club found Brosnan and Beckinsale to be "vastly more interesting by the twin virtues of not disguising their voices and fitting so poorly into the sad-faced melodrama this movie wants to be."[191] She is attached to star in an adaptation of The Chocolate Money by Ashley Prentice Norton,[192] with a screenplay by Emma Forrest.[193] In 2018, Beckinsale starred as Ingrid Carpenter in the British film Farming.[194]

Beckinsale starred in the ITV/Amazon Prime drama The Widow (2019), her first TV series for more than 20 years.[195] The series stars Beckinsale as an Englishwoman who believes her husband, killed in a plane crash three years prior, is still alive in the Congo.[196][197] Beckinsale starred in the American action comedy film Jolt alongside Bobby Cannavale, Laverne Cox, Stanley Tucci and Jai Courtney. Jolt was adapted from a screenplay by Scott Wascha and directed by Tanya Wexler and released by Amazon Studios on 23 July 2021.[198] That same year she starred in the Paramount+ dark comedy streaming television Guilty Party. In that series, she served as executive producer as well.[199]

In 2021, Deadline announced that Beckinsale would star in the Catherine Hardwicke directed family drama Prisoner's Daughter.[200]

Modelling

[edit]

Labelled an "English rose" by the BBC as early as 2001,[201] Beckinsale has worked occasionally as a model. In 1997, she appeared in the music video for George Michael's "Waltz Away Dreaming."[67] She starred opposite Orlando Bloom in a 2002 Gap television advertisement directed by Cameron Crowe.[202] She appeared in a Diet Coke television advertisement in 2004, directed by Michel Gondry.[203][204] She advertised Absolut Vodka in a 2009 print campaign photographed by Ellen von Unwerth.[205][206]

Personal life

[edit]

Relationships

[edit]

Beckinsale was in a relationship with Welsh actor Michael Sheen from 1995 to 2003. They met when cast in a touring production of The Seagull in early 1995 and moved in together shortly afterwards.[207][208][209] In 1997, they voiced an audiobook production of Romeo and Juliet.[59] Their daughter was born in 1999.[210][211] In 2001, Beckinsale said she was "embarrassed" that Sheen never proposed,[45][212] but felt as though she was married.[213] They broke up in early 2003, after the filming of Underworld.[214] Beckinsale and Sheen remain close friends. She remarked in 2016, "He's really dear, close family. He's somebody I've known since I was 21 years old. I really love him a lot."[215]

Beckinsale met American director Len Wiseman while working together on 2003's Underworld.[216] She persuaded Wiseman to cast Sheen in the film,[217] but while on set, Beckinsale and Wiseman fell in love. Wiseman's then-wife Dana, a kindergarten teacher, accused her husband of infidelity with Beckinsale.[218] Beckinsale and Wiseman married on 9 May 2004 in Bel-Air, California.[219] They separated in November 2015. Wiseman filed for divorce in 2016, citing "irreconcilable differences."[220][221] Their divorce was finalised in November 2019.[222] Beckinsale briefly dated American comedian Matt Rife in 2017 and 2018.[223][224]

From January 2019 until April 2019, Beckinsale was in a relationship with American comedian Pete Davidson.[225][226]

Personal and political beliefs

[edit]

Beckinsale is a smoker.[227] When she was nine, her mother moved in with Roy Battersby, and his sons introduced her to cigarettes.[228][18]

She is a teetotaller, stating in 2003, "I've never been drunk even. I've never taken drugs. I've never had a one-night-stand."[229]

In 2007, she appeared alongside David Schwimmer in the sixth of the Writers Guild of America member-conceived Internet videos for Project "Speechless," in support of the WGA labour strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.[230][231]

In 2012, she appeared alongside Judy Greer and Andrea Savage in the Funny or Die video "Republicans, Get in My Vagina," a satire of the Republican Party's policies concerning abortion and prenatal care.[232]

[edit]

In July 2003, the Press Complaints Commission dismissed a complaint filed by Beckinsale. She alleged that the tabloid Daily Mail had invaded her and her daughter's privacy by publishing photographs of the actress embracing and kissing her then-boyfriend Len Wiseman.[233] The article in question was headlined, "Mummy's latest love scene leaves Lily unimpressed" and included a picture in which her then-four-year-old daughter appeared to be ignoring her mother's romantic actions.[233] The Commission found that "the photographs had been taken in a public place and did not reveal any private details about Lily—such as her health or schooling—but were restricted to general observations about her apparent reaction to her surroundings."[233]

In August 2003, Beckinsale received a published apology from the Daily Mail after it claimed that she had "spent time in a clinic" following her break-up with Michael Sheen.[234] The apology was issued after she filed a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission.[234] In 2009, Beckinsale was awarded £20,000 (equivalent to £33,900 in 2023) in damages by the British High Court after taking legal action against Express Newspapers.[235] The Daily Express had falsely reported that she was "facing heartbreak" after losing out on a role in a remake of Barbarella.[235]

Philanthropy

[edit]

The British Heart Foundation has been Beckinsale's charity of choice "ever since [she] was six years old"[236][237] when her father, who had coronary artery disease, died of a massive heart attack. She has also donated film memorabilia to the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation,[238][239] MediCinema,[240] Habitat For Humanity[241] and the Entertainment Industry Foundation.[242] In 2008, she hosted the 4th Annual Pink Party to raise funds for the Women's Cancer Research Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center[243] and organised a screening of All About Eve for FilmAid International.[244] In 2012, Beckinsale joined Nestlé's Share the Joy of Reading Program to raise awareness about the importance of literacy.[245]

Filmography

[edit]
Beckinsale in 2006
Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Much Ado About Nothing Hero
1994 Prince of Jutland Ethel
Uncovered Julia
1995 Marie-Louise ou la permission Marie-Louise
Haunted Christina Mariell
1997 Shooting Fish Georgie
1998 The Last Days of Disco Charlotte Pingress
1999 Brokedown Palace Darlene Davis
2000 The Golden Bowl Maggie Verver
2001 Pearl Harbor Lt. Evelyn Johnson
Serendipity Sara Thomas
2002 Laurel Canyon Alex Elliot
2003 Underworld Selene
Tiptoes Carol
2004 Van Helsing Anna Valerious
The Aviator Ava Gardner
2006 Underworld: Evolution Selene
Click Donna Newman
2007 Snow Angels Annie Marchand
Vacancy Amy Fox
2008 Winged Creatures Carla Davenport
Nothing but the Truth Rachel Armstrong
2009 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans Selene Cameo
Archival footage; voiceover
Whiteout Carrie Stetko
Everybody's Fine Amy Goode
2012 Contraband Kate Farraday
Underworld: Awakening Selene
Total Recall Lori Quaid
2013 The Trials of Cate McCall Cate McCall
2014 Stonehearst Asylum Eliza Graves
The Face of an Angel Simone Ford
2015 Absolutely Anything Catherine West
2016 Love & Friendship Lady Susan Vernon
The Disappointments Room Dana
Underworld: Blood Wars Selene
2017 The Only Living Boy in New York Johanna
2018 Farming Ingrid Carpenter
2021 Jolt Lindy Lewis
2022 Prisoner's Daughter Maxine
2023 Fool’s Paradise Christiana Dior
2024 Canary Black Avery Graves Also executive producer
2025 Stolen Girl[246] Maureen Dabbagh
TBA The Patient[247] † Post-production
Lioness † Filming

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1975 Couples Child 2 episodes (as Kathrin Beckinsale)
1991 Devices and Desires Young Alice Mair Miniseries
Voice; 1 episode
One Against the Wind Barbe Lindell Television film
1992 Video Fantasies Rachel Segment: "Rachel's Dream"
1993 Anna Lee: Headcase Thea Hahn Television film
1995 Cold Comfort Farm Flora Poste
1996 Emma Emma Woodhouse
1998 Alice Through the Looking Glass Alice
2006 Punk'd[248] Herself Episode 7x01 - April 3, 2006 (set up by Michael Sheen)
2019 The Widow[195] Georgia Wells Lead role; also co-executive producer
The Late Late Show with James Corden[249] Herself The Bold and the Lyrical - "Bruno Mars Soap Opera" skit on episode 5x90
2021 Guilty Party Beth Burgess Main cast; also executive producer

Web

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2007 "Speechless" (Microsode 6)[250] With David Schwimmer for the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike
2009 "ABSOLUT Drinks"[251] Directed by Ellen von Unwerth for Absolut Vodka
2012 "Republicans, Get in My Vagina"[252] Woman #3 Funny or Die microshort with Judy Greer and Andrea Savage
2013 "A Love Story"[253] Herself For C Magazine: California Style & Culture
2016 "How to Get a Guy in the 1800s"[254] For Vanity Fair

Music videos

[edit]
Year Artist Song Notes
1998 George Michael "Waltz Away Dreaming"[255] Silent performance
2008 Serge Gainsbourg "Rollergirl"[256] Silent performance for Mean
2009 Jet "Goodbye Hollywood" Silent performance for Esquire

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role
2004 Underworld: The Eternal War Selene
2014 The Elder Scrolls Online Queen Ayrenn
2017 The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind
2018 The Elder Scrolls Online: Summerset
2022 The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle

Stage

[edit]
Year Title Author Role Venue
1992 Hay Fever Noël Coward Sorel Bliss
1995 The Seagull Anton Chekhov Nina Zarechnaya Theatre Royal, Bath and Tour
1996 Sweetheart Nick Grosso Toni Royal Court Theatre
Clocks and Whistles Samuel Adamson Anne Bush Theatre
Faithless

Spoken word

[edit]
Year Title Author Role Publisher Notes
1996 Emma Jane Austen Narrator Hodder & Stoughton Abridged
Emma & Knightley: Perfect Happiness in Highbury Rachel Billington
1997 Bold Little Tiger Joan Stimson Ladybird Books Unabridged
The Proposal Diana Hendry BBC Radio 4[57]
Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare Juliet Naxos Audiobooks[59] Unabridged full-cast dramatization
2018 Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen Narrator Apple Books Unabridged

Singing

[edit]
Year Title Writer Soundtrack Notes
1995 "The Little American (Marie-Louise)" Alexandre Desplat Marie-Louise ou la permission[257][258]
"La Petite Américaine" Duet with Yann Collette
1996 "Father, Father, Build Me a Boat" (Traditional) Emma[259] Duet with Ray Coulthard
1998 "Amazing Grace"[260] John Newton The Last Days of Disco[261]

Documentaries

[edit]
Year Title Notes
1977 This Is Your Life Episode 18x02 - "Richard Beckinsale"
2000 The Unforgettable Richard Beckinsale
2016 Rising Damp Forever
2019 Untouchable Archival footage; uncredited
2023 Dynamo Is Dead Also in Dynamo Is Dead: Extras
Episode 1x06 - "Kate Beckinsale Extended Cut"

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Film Result Ref.
1997 Sitges – Catalan International Film Festival Best Actress Shooting Fish Won [262]
1999 London Film Critics' Circle Awards British Supporting Actress of the Year (tied with Minnie Driver) The Last Days of Disco Won [263]
2002 MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance Pearl Harbor Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Actress Serendipity Nominated [264]
2004 Underworld Nominated [264]
2005 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (shared with rest of cast) The Aviator Nominated [264]
2006 MTV Movie Awards Best Hero Underworld: Evolution Nominated [264]
People's Choice Awards Favorite Female Action Star Nominated [264]
2008 Critics' Choice Awards Best Actress Nothing But the Truth Nominated [264]
2012 Spike Guys' Choice Awards Jean-Claude Gahd Dam Underworld: Awakening Won [264]
2016 Gotham Awards Best Actress Love & Friendship Nominated
Critics' Choice Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Nominated
2017 London Film Critics' Circle Awards Actress of the Year Nominated
British/Irish Actress of the Year Won [265]
Evening Standard British Film Awards Best Actress Won [266]
2021 National Film Awards UK Best Actress Farming Won [267]
2022 National Film Awards UK Best Actress Jolt Won

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kate Beckinsale

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Kate Beckinsale, born Kathrin Romary Beckinsale on 26 July 1973 in , , , is an English actress and former model whose career spans British period dramas and Hollywood action films. The daughter of television actor , who died of a heart attack in 1979 when she was five, and actress , she grew up immersed in the and initially pursued studies at Oxford University before dropping out to focus on acting. Beckinsale debuted on television in the early with appearances in British series such as Rachel's Dream and One Against the Wind, transitioning to film with supporting roles in (1994) and Haunted (1995). Her breakthrough came with leading roles in adaptations like (1995) and Jane Austen's Emma (1996), earning praise for her comedic timing and period authenticity. She achieved international stardom in the early through Hollywood productions, including (2001) and Van Helsing (2004), but became most identified with the action-horror Underworld series (2003–2012), where she portrayed the vampire warrior , performing many of her own stunts and contributing to the franchise's success exceeding $500 million worldwide. Later career highlights include dramatic turns in Nothing But the Truth (2008), for which she received a Critics' Choice nomination, and the Whit Stillman comedy Love & Friendship (2016), earning another Critics' Choice nod for Best Actress in a Comedy. Beckinsale has also ventured into television with the Amazon series The Widow (2018–2020) and returned to action with Jolt (2021). In recent years, she has publicly addressed experiences of on-set harassment and industry misogyny, detailing incidents of physical abuse and silencing tactics during a 2024 Instagram video, highlighting systemic issues faced by actresses. Personally, she is mother to actress Lily Mo Sheen (born 1999) from her long-term relationship with Welsh actor Michael Sheen and was married to director Len Wiseman from 2004 to 2019. Beckinsale maintains an active social media presence, frequently countering online trolls regarding her appearance and age, denying rumors of cosmetic procedures and emphasizing natural fitness routines.

Early life and education

Family background and childhood

Kathrin Romany Beckinsale was born on July 26, 1973, in to actors and , who had married in 1977 shortly before her birth. As the couple's only child, she grew up immersed in an environment shaped by her parents' careers in British television and theater, with Loe appearing in series such as and prior to and following Beckinsale's birth. Beckinsale's father, known for comedic roles in shows like and , brought a legacy of performance into the household, exposing her early to the demands and dynamics of the acting world. She has an older half-sister, (born July 23, 1966), from her father's prior marriage to Margaret Bradley, who also pursued acting in British television. This familial connection to the industry fostered an artistic upbringing, though marked by personal challenges. Richard Beckinsale died suddenly of a heart attack on March 19, 1979, at age 31, leaving five-year-old Kate and her mother to navigate the aftermath. A post-mortem confirmed as the underlying cause, undetectable without prior symptoms. Judy Loe continued her acting work, maintaining the household's ties to entertainment while raising Beckinsale amid the emotional weight of early bereavement.

Academic pursuits and early influences

Beckinsale attended the , an independent day school for girls in , , where she demonstrated strong academic aptitude, earning A-levels in three languages. Her performance there included participation in school theater productions, which sparked her interest in dramatic arts alongside literary pursuits. In 1991, she enrolled at New College, , to study French and Russian literature, fields that aligned with her linguistic strengths and interest in narrative depth. During her time there, Beckinsale excelled in , securing the W.H. Smith Young Writers Award twice for fiction and poetry, reflecting her early command of literary expression. She joined the , performing in student plays that honed her interpretive skills through classical texts, bridging her academic focus on authors like Chekhov and Tolstoy with performative analysis. Beckinsale's nascent acting ambitions intersected with her studies via a brief hiatus for professional commitments, including an appearance in the production Rachel's Dream at age 15, which predated university but reinforced her vocational pull. By her third year, she prioritized opportunities over degree completion, departing in 1994 after three years of study, a decision shaped by the immediacy of theater and prospects amid her literary training's emphasis on character psychology and dialogue. This academic foundation, particularly her immersion in Russian literature's themes of human resilience and complexity, cultivated perseverance against early professional setbacks, such as audition rejections, informing her approach to dramatic roles with a critic's precision rather than rote performance.

Career

Initial roles in British theater and television (1991–1997)

Beckinsale's professional acting career began with a supporting role as Barbe Lindell in the television film One Against the Wind, a drama directed by Larry Elikann and filmed in during the summer of 1991, which aired on December 1, 1991. In this production, she portrayed the daughter of Judy Davis's character, Countess , involved in efforts to aid Allied pilots. Her next television appearance came in 1992 with the lead role of Rachel in Rachel's Dream, a directed by , depicting a young woman's escapist fantasies amid encroaching technology and family pressures. Transitioning to film, Beckinsale debuted on the big screen in 1994 as Ethel in Prince of Jutland (also released as Royal Deceit), a Danish historical drama directed by Gabriel Axel, adapting the legend of Amleth that later inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet, co-starring Christian Bale and Helen Mirren. The following year, she appeared in two period pieces: the horror film Haunted, directed by Lewis Gilbert, where she played Christina Mariell, the enigmatic ward in a ghostly English estate investigated by a skeptical professor (Aidan Quinn); and the BBC adaptation Cold Comfort Farm, directed by John Schlesinger, in which she starred as the resourceful orphan Flora Poste, who modernizes her eccentric rural relatives' lives in this satirical take on Gothic novels. These roles highlighted her affinity for literary adaptations and classical settings, drawing on her training in French, German, and Russian literature from Oxford. On stage, Beckinsale gained experience through touring productions, notably performing in Anton Chekhov's with Thelma Holt's Theatre Company across in early 1995, a role that underscored her commitment to live theater amid her emerging screen work. This period established her within British costume drama and ensemble casts, prioritizing nuanced character portrayals in historical or literary contexts over immediate commercial vehicles.

Breakthrough in international film and Hollywood entry (1998–2002)

Beckinsale gained early international exposure through her role as the innocent in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of (1993), filmed in during her university break, which introduced her to a global audience alongside stars like and . This period piece laid groundwork for her transition from British television to feature films with broader appeal. In 1998, she starred in the ensemble comedy , portraying a young professional navigating New York , a low-profile project that highlighted her versatility in contemporary settings but did not yet propel her to stardom. Her dramatic range became evident in Brokedown Palace (1999), where she co-led as Darlene Davis, an American teenager wrongfully imprisoned in for drug smuggling alongside ' character, emphasizing themes of friendship and injustice under director . The film, though critically mixed with a 31% approval rating, showcased Beckinsale's ability to handle emotionally intense roles in ensemble dramas. Following this, she took the lead as Maggie Verver in James Ivory's (2000), an adaptation of ' novel about wealth, marriage, and betrayal in early 20th-century , opposite and , further demonstrating her poise in period literary dramas. Beckinsale's entry into Hollywood mainstream arrived with (2001), directed by , in which she played nurse Evelyn Johnson in a romantic wartime triangle with and amid the 1941 Japanese attack. The production, with a $140 million budget, grossed $449 million worldwide despite a 24% critical approval rating, marking her highest-profile role to date and exposing her to U.S. audiences, though it hinted at potential typecasting in romantic leads. That year, she also appeared in the Serendipity as Sara Thomas, a chance-encounter love story with , which earned $77 million globally and reinforced her appeal in lighter ensemble fare. During this phase, her personal relationship with actor , ongoing since the mid-1990s, coincided with selections favoring character-driven dramas over commercial blockbusters.

Action film dominance and franchise success (2003–2006)

Beckinsale's transition to action cinema began with her lead role as , a Death Dealer, in , directed by and released on September 19, 2003. The film, produced on a $22 million budget, grossed $51.97 million domestically and approximately $95 million worldwide, establishing a vampire-werewolf franchise centered on Selene's battles against Lycans. To embody the physically demanding character, Beckinsale underwent intensive training, transforming from a self-described "fragile" performer into a capable action lead capable of executing stunts and combat sequences. In 2004, Beckinsale portrayed Anna Valerious opposite in Van Helsing, a monster mash released on May 7, which blended horror elements with high-octane action. Despite a $160 million budget and mixed critical reception for its formulaic narrative, the film achieved commercial viability, earning $120.18 million in and $300.16 million globally. Beckinsale's role involved extensive wire work and fight choreography, contributing to the film's spectacle-driven appeal amid critiques of overcrowded plotting. The franchise momentum continued with Underworld: Evolution, released January 20, 2006, where Beckinsale reprised Selene, delving deeper into the lore with hybrid threats and intensified horror-action sequences. Made for around $50 million, it outperformed the original domestically at $62.32 million and added $113.4 million worldwide, driven by returning fans and Beckinsale's established persona as a leather-clad warrior heroine. Her commitment to rigorous preparation, including circuit training and stunt coordination, underscored the physical toll, yet solidified her dominance in the genre during this period, yielding franchise sequels despite persistent notes on derivative storytelling.

Shift to independent dramas and varied genres (2007–2015)

In the years following her action-heavy roles, Beckinsale pursued independent dramas to expand her range, beginning with Snow Angels (2007), an indie film directed by where she portrayed Annie Marchand, a waitress navigating personal turmoil and family strife in a small town. The project, adapted from ’s novel and premiered at the 2007 with a in 2008, earned a 68% approval rating on , with reviewers noting Beckinsale's effective depiction of a vulnerable, unglamorous character amid the film's exploration of loss and dysfunction. This phase included Nothing but the Truth (2008), a political thriller in which Beckinsale played journalist Rachel Armstrong, who faces imprisonment after refusing to reveal sources in a CIA leak story, highlighting her interest in character-driven narratives over spectacle. Concurrently, she narrated documentaries like Winged Migration (earlier in 2001, but reflective of her voice work in nature films), signaling a pivot toward subtler, artistic endeavors. However, earlier prestige attempts, such as her portrayal of Ava Gardner in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004), drew mixed responses, with some critics arguing the casting did not fully capture Gardner's distinctive sensuality and screen presence despite the film's Oscar success. By 2009, Beckinsale balanced dramatic experiments with genre hybrids, starring as Amy, a driven executive hiding family tensions, in Everybody's Fine, a remake directed by Kirk Jones featuring as her estranged father on a cross-country journey. The film, released on December 4, 2009, received a 47% score, praised for its emotional core but critiqued for sentimental pacing. In contrast, Whiteout (2009), where she led as U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko investigating a at an research station, leaned into thriller elements but faced harsh reviews for contrived plot twists and sluggish tension, scoring only 7% on . These selections reflected selective project choices amid family priorities, prioritizing roles with finite shoots over extended franchises. The period culminated in varied genre returns by 2012, including supporting turns in action thrillers like Contraband, as the wife of a reformed smuggler (Mark Wahlberg) entangled in a heist gone wrong, which grossed $96 million worldwide but earned a middling 50% critical rating for formulaic execution. Beckinsale also took an antagonistic role as Lori Quaid, a deceptive operative, in the sci-fi remake Total Recall, directed by Len Wiseman and starring Colin Farrell, which underperformed critically at 30% on Rotten Tomatoes despite $198 million in global earnings, underscoring her experimentation with villainy in high-concept fare. Overall, this era yielded mixed commercial and artistic results, with Beckinsale later reflecting on efforts to avoid action typecasting while acknowledging Hollywood's pigeonholing tendencies.

Contemporary projects and streaming era (2016–present)

Beckinsale portrayed the cunning widow Lady Susan Vernon in the 2016 period comedy Love & Friendship, directed by Whit Stillman and adapted from Jane Austen's Lady Susan, earning praise for its sharp wit and her commanding performance amid a 96% critics' approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That year, she also concluded her Underworld franchise commitment by starring as the vampire warrior Selene in Underworld: Blood Wars, which grossed $81 million worldwide against a $50 million budget but marked a decline in franchise returns. Transitioning toward television and streaming platforms, Beckinsale led the series The Widow from 2018 to 2020 as Georgia Shay, a investigating her presumed-dead husband's survival in the Democratic Republic of Congo, across two seasons that blended thriller elements with personal drama. In 2021, she headlined the Paramount+ comedy Guilty Party as a tabloid entangled in a wrongful conviction case, and starred in the action-comedy Jolt on as Lindy Lewis, a managing rage blackouts via an experimental vest, which debuted with a 40% score reflecting divided reception on its formulaic plot despite her physical commitment to stunts. Beckinsale's role as CIA operative Avery Graves in the 2024 thriller , directed by and released directly on Prime Video, involved a blackmailed betrayal plot to rescue her kidnapped husband, achieving an 18% critics' rating amid critiques of derivative scripting akin to gender-swapped Taken iterations. In June 2025, she filed a against producers alleging unsafe filming conditions, including inadequate stunt safety protocols that exacerbated her injuries. Following a six-week hospitalization in early 2024 for a stress-induced esophageal tear and flare-up, Beckinsale resumed public appearances, including presenting at the January 2024 Golden Globes ceremony before rushing to support her hospitalized stepfather, and advanced toward projects like the upcoming Stolen Girl set for 2025 release. This era reflects Beckinsale's adaptation to streaming dominance, with multiple Prime Video and other platform releases bypassing traditional theatrical runs amid post-pandemic industry shifts, yielding varied commercial metrics—such as Jolt's strong streaming views but middling reviews—while sustaining action leads into her early 50s despite empirical trends of reduced female protagonists in high-octane genres after age 40.

Modeling and endorsement work

Beckinsale featured in Gap's 2002 summer advertising campaign, appearing in the "Denim Invasion" television commercial directed by , where she portrayed a denim-clad figure alongside , evoking a 1960s-inspired pursuit by fans. The black-and-white spot promoted Gap's casual line and aired as part of a high-profile push utilizing celebrity talent to appeal to younger consumers. In 2009, she endorsed through the brand's "Drinks" print campaign, photographed by , which depicted her in stylized scenarios drawing from elements, such as channeling aesthetics in the "Tonic Twist" ad and a larger-than-life presence in the "Crush" variation. This collaboration, also involving , emphasized creative interpretations of mixers and garnishes to market flavored vodka variants. Beckinsale has additionally endorsed brands including , reflecting selective commercial partnerships outside her acting portfolio. Her modeling appearances include multiple magazine covers and editorials, such as Flaunt in January 2012, where she posed for photographer Greg Lotus, and in January-February 2020, showcasing her fitness in athletic wear. Into the , photoshoots like Shape's 2016 cover highlighted her toned physique from action training, often in form-fitting attire, though such imagery drew occasional commentary on its emphasis on physical allure over narrative depth. These endeavors, amplified by her presence, maintained visibility in circles distinct from film promotions.

Public image and critical reception

Achievements and commercial impact

Beckinsale achieved substantial commercial success through lead roles in high-grossing action and fantasy films during the early 2000s. Her portrayal of Evelyn Johnson in Pearl Harbor (2001) contributed to the film's worldwide box office total of approximately $449 million. Similarly, as Anna Valerious in Van Helsing (2004), she starred in a production that earned over $300 million globally. These performances established her as a bankable star in visually intensive blockbusters. The Underworld franchise, where Beckinsale reprised the role of Selene across five films from 2003 to 2016, generated a cumulative worldwide gross exceeding $540 million. Individual entries, such as (2003) at $160 million and Underworld: Awakening (2012) with $25 million in its opening weekend alone, underscored the series' consistent profitability despite modest budgets relative to returns. This longevity highlighted her draw in the supernatural action genre. Beckinsale's commitment to action roles involved intensive physical preparation, including firearms training and stunt work, which enhanced her credibility and influenced subsequent female-led action projects. The franchise's revivals on streaming services have sustained audience interest, contributing to her ongoing commercial relevance. As of , her is estimated at $30 million, derived primarily from film earnings, endorsements, and diversified ventures.

Criticisms of typecasting and role selection

Critics and audience members have accused Beckinsale of being in lowbrow action films following her breakthrough in (2003), arguing that this trajectory underutilized her demonstrated range in earlier dramatic roles such as (1995) and (1998). Some observers contend that her casting as in The Aviator (2004), intended as a prestige dramatic turn, was itself a miscasting that failed to showcase her strengths, with reviewers noting she lacked the convincing world-weary edge of the real-life actress. This perceived typecasting intensified with sequels like Underworld: Evolution (2006) and later entries, where Beckinsale reprised her warrior , leading to claims that she prioritized franchise security over challenging dramatic opportunities. Films such as Whiteout (2009), a thriller in which she played a U.S. Marshal investigating a murder in , drew specific ire for uninspired plotting and formulaic execution, exacerbating views of her as confined to derivative action vehicles; the movie bombed at the , earning $17.8 million worldwide against a $35 million budget. As Beckinsale entered her 40s, industry commentary highlighted "age purgatory" in Hollywood, where she was deemed too old for leading ingenue roles yet too young for mature dramatic parts typically reserved for older actresses, further limiting her escape from action typecasting. Beckinsale has acknowledged struggling against such pigeonholing, stating in interviews that action roles fell outside her comfort zone and initial aspirations, though she pursued them amid fewer viable alternatives. Defenders of her choices cite financial pragmatism, noting the series' cumulative global earnings exceeding $500 million, providing stability in an industry favoring sequels over risks, alongside evidence of selectivity—such as declining the role in the early due to creative concerns.

Legacy in genre cinema

Beckinsale's depiction of , the warrior in the franchise (2003–2016), marked a significant early example of a female protagonist dominating high-stakes action-horror narratives, helping pave the way for later female-led films like (2017). Her character's proficiency with dual pistols, acrobatic combat, and unyielding resolve against lycan foes established a of the leather-clad, lethal anti-heroine, reshaping expectations for women in physically intensive roles prior to the mainstream surge in such portrayals. The series' mythology, originating from a Corvinus bloodline that spawned vampire-lycan hybrids and enhanced strains, innovated within lore by emphasizing militaristic clan warfare over traditional gothic romance, influencing subgenres blending horror with gunplay and CGI effects. Critically, the films faced dismissal for formulaic plotting and diminishing originality in sequels, with audience scores consistently outpacing critic ratings—such as 54% versus 17% for Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)—yet their cumulative worldwide gross exceeding $527 million reflected robust fan loyalty drawn to the spectacle and Beckinsale's commanding presence. Beckinsale's endurance in work, evolving from initial skepticism about action viability to embracing roles in projects like Jolt (2021) and (2024), underscores resilience against industry and shifting production paradigms toward streaming. This trajectory highlights her role in sustaining audience interest in female-driven action-horror amid broader cinematic transitions, where empirical commercial viability often trumped critical consensus.

Personal life

Relationships and marriages

Beckinsale began a relationship with Welsh actor in 1995 after meeting as co-stars in the play . The partnership lasted eight years, ending amicably in 2003 amid her involvement in the film . Sheen later described the separation as difficult but emphasized their ongoing mutual respect. Following the split from Sheen, Beckinsale started dating director , whom she met on the set of in 2003. They married on May 9, 2004, in . The couple separated in 2015 and Wiseman filed for on October 25, 2016, citing , with both waiving spousal support. The was finalized on November 4, 2019, after amicable negotiations over property division. Despite the end of the marriage, they maintained a friendly rapport. In early 2019, shortly after her divorce proceedings advanced, Beckinsale was linked to comedian following flirtatious interactions at a Golden Globes after-party on January 6. The brief romance, marked by public outings including a kiss at a film premiere on March 19, ended by late April without reported animosity. Beckinsale's romantic history predominantly involves partners within the industry, from actors to directors and comedians, which has amplified media scrutiny and challenges to her amid high-profile collaborations. Post-divorce, she expressed views favoring separate living arrangements for long-term couples to preserve independence, stating in a 2019 interview that can strain relationships.

Motherhood and family dynamics

Kate Beckinsale gave birth to her , Lily Mo Sheen, on January 31, 1999, with partner . The couple, who began their relationship in 1995, separated in 2003 but prioritized co-parenting Lily, maintaining an amicable dynamic that included joint family holidays and involvement of subsequent partners, such as Sheen's then-girlfriend in 2016 celebrations. Beckinsale has described their approach as child-centered, stating in 2017 that both parents focus on Lily's needs without intermediaries, crediting this for their effective collaboration despite the split. Beckinsale and Lily share a close bond, with the daughter pursuing acting, appearing in films like Underworld: Evolution (2006) alongside her mother and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022). Lily has acknowledged challenges of growing up with famous parents but highlighted the stability from her parents' ongoing cooperation. In response to public criticism of Beckinsale's age-gap relationships with younger men, such as her 2020 association with rapper (then 22), Lily expressed indifference, supporting her mother's choices without concern. Family dynamics were shaped by early loss when Beckinsale's father, actor , died of a heart attack on March 19, 1979, at age 31, leaving her at five years old; her mother, , provided primary support amid this grief. Loe, an actress herself, remained a key figure until her death from cancer on July 15, 2025, at age 78, which Beckinsale announced as occurring in her arms after prolonged suffering, intensifying familial emotional strains. This event, following prior tributes to her father, underscored Beckinsale's reliance on Lily and extended family for resilience in processing compounded bereavements.

Health struggles and personal resilience

Kate Beckinsale was diagnosed with (MCAS), a condition in which mast cells release excessive chemical mediators, leading to symptoms including severe allergic reactions, gastrointestinal distress, and cardiovascular issues. She has described MCAS as a "massive daily struggle" involving adverse reactions to hundreds of substances and environmental factors, which she publicly disclosed in May 2023 to counter speculation about cosmetic procedures. In early 2024, Beckinsale endured a six-week hospitalization triggered by an esophageal tear at the junction with the , resulting in copious amounts of ; this was attributed to acute stress and exacerbating her MCAS. The physiological mechanism involved Mallory-Weiss , where intense retching from emotional distress caused the mucosal laceration, compounded by . Recovery required medical intervention, including monitoring for complications like further or , highlighting the causal link between unresolved and somatic injury in susceptible individuals. Beckinsale has sustained chronic injuries from performing action , including a complex in her left knee during filming of in December 2022, which producers allegedly compelled her to exacerbate through continued high-risk sequences despite medical advice. She has shared graphic images of bruising, abrasions, and joint damage from such work, underscoring the physical toll of genre roles without reliance on stunt doubles for principal actions. Following the death of her stepfather, , in January 2024 and her mother, , on July 15, 2025, after a stage 4 cancer battle, Beckinsale experienced significant in 2025, which she directly linked to grief-induced stress rather than intentional dieting or medications like . She emphasized empirical management through addressing root stressors, rejecting unsubstantiated narratives, and resuming professional commitments post-recovery to demonstrate resilience amid recurrent health flares.

Views and philanthropy

Political and social positions

In June 2020, Beckinsale publicly supported the movement by posting on Instagram about the killing of and condemning a follower's "" comment as "mean spirited," arguing it created unnecessary division amid calls for justice in specific cases of police violence. She has aligned with mainstream Hollywood progressive stances, including participation in the May 2022 "Bans Off Our Bodies" protests against potential restrictions on abortion access, where she joined crowds marching in support of reproductive rights. Beckinsale has critiqued societal expectations imposed on regarding aging and personal freedom, stating in a May 2020 that "it can feel a little bit of a political act to be a over 32 who's having any fun at all," in reference to backlash over her dating younger men and maintaining an active social life. This perspective highlights perceived double standards, as she noted men face less scrutiny for similar behaviors, positioning her defense of post-30 as a form of resistance against ageist norms that demand conformity over enjoyment. Despite these expressions of clashing with some cultural pressures for restraint—often amplified in feminist —Beckinsale has not publicly reconciled or disavowed such tensions, instead emphasizing personal agency amid criticism. As a British citizen ineligible to vote in U.S. elections, Beckinsale nonetheless shared imagery encouraging during the 2020 presidential race, aligning with efforts to mobilize American participation without personal eligibility. Her positions reflect broader Hollywood tendencies toward liberal social advocacy, though specific critiques of politicized events, such as awards shows, remain limited in public record to general frustrations with industry protocols rather than overt ideological commentary.

Charitable involvements and advocacy

Beckinsale has maintained a longstanding commitment to the , which she has identified as her charity of choice since the age of six, following her father Richard Beckinsale's death from a heart attack in 1979. In October 2020, she joined The Mariposa Trust—also known through its Saying Goodbye division—as an ambassador to support families experiencing baby loss and bereavement, drawing from her own personal history of . Beckinsale has participated in events for AIDS research and awareness, including attending multiple galas for the , such as the 11th Annual White Tie and Tiara Ball in 2011 and the organization's Academy Awards viewing parties in 2008 and 2009. In September 2024, she opened the amfAR Venice Film Festival Gala, which raised over $2.5 million for AIDS research initiatives. She has supported epidermolysis bullosa research by attending fundraisers, including the 2007 Kinerase Skincare "CelEBration on the Pier" event hosted by , which benefited the EB Medical Research Foundation. Beckinsale has also contributed to humanitarian efforts through FilmAid International by hosting in-house screening events to aid the organization's work providing educational films in refugee camps and crisis zones.

Controversies

Experiences with Hollywood dynamics

In December 2024, Beckinsale detailed experiences of systemic in Hollywood via an video, recounting a at age 18 by a man on set who allegedly groped her after she rejected advances, with a female actress later dismissing the report by stating "No, you haven't" been assaulted. She further described being compelled to participate in a nude photoshoot the day after a on a film set, where producers enforced secrecy about her condition to prevent production delays, framing it as part of broader patterns of exploitation and cover-ups. These disclosures, prompted in part by discussions around Blake Lively's workplace allegations, underscore Beckinsale's view of entrenched industry practices prioritizing schedules over performer welfare. Beckinsale has also addressed age-related , noting historical barriers for women in leading roles post-40, which she attributes to causal factors like audience demographics and casting preferences favoring youth. Industry data corroborates these patterns: in 2023, women over 40 accounted for less than half of all female speaking roles in the top 100 grossing films, with most female characters depicted in their 20s or 30s. analysis from 2019 revealed that only 21% of female leads were over 40, versus 34% for males, reflecting persistent disparities in role availability that constrain career for female actors. A 2024 study highlighted even starker leads: just three top films featured women aged 45 or older in principal roles, compared to 32 for men. While Beckinsale's personal accounts highlight verifiable industry pressures, they align with empirical evidence of structural barriers rather than isolated incidents, though the veracity of specific unadjudicated claims relies on her testimony amid Hollywood's history of selective accountability in progressive circles. These experiences, distinct from broader political discourse, emphasize tangible causal impediments to professional equity, such as reduced script opportunities and typecasting, which data shows disproportionately affect women irrespective of talent or prior success.

Public feuds and online backlash

In 2019 and 2020, Beckinsale repeatedly defended her romantic relationships with significantly younger men against online trolls criticizing the age disparities. For instance, after sharing photos with Canadian musician , then 22, while she was 46, she responded to a commenter questioning the gap by deleting the remark and quipping about unrelated trivialities, effectively dismissing the criticism. Similar exchanges occurred with prior partner , where she highlighted perceived double standards in public scrutiny of women's dating choices compared to men's. These interactions underscored patterns of backlash focused on her personal life, with Beckinsale often using sarcasm to rebut accusations of impropriety. During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Beckinsale faced rebuttals after posting about Breonna Taylor's killing, prompting her to condemn "" responses as "mean spirited" and contextually dismissive of specific racial justice concerns. She argued that such phrases derailed discussions on targeted violence, defending her focus on Taylor's case amid broader debates over the slogan's implications. Critics of her stance, however, viewed the rebuttal as overly combative, questioning whether it escalated online divisions rather than fostering dialogue, though Beckinsale maintained it addressed direct . Beckinsale has consistently clapped back at body-shaming comments targeting her physique, such as in October 2020 when she retorted to an Instagram user calling her "dreadfully thin" by emphasizing personal autonomy over unsolicited judgments. In January 2025, she addressed trolls accusing her of excessive weight loss, deleting critical comments and affirming her without yielding to external standards. These responses formed a pattern of direct engagement with detractors, including those doubting her career by tying appearance to ; some observers critiqued this approach as fostering victim narratives that amplified rather than resolved . Regarding rumors from the January 2025 Golden Globes after-parties, reports claimed Beckinsale kissed her ex, comedian , reigniting speculation about their brief 2023 romance despite the 22-year age difference. Her representative swiftly denied the kissing allegation, clarifying no such intimacy occurred and attributing the story to misinterpretation of friendly interactions. This denial aligned with her history of refuting tabloid embellishments, though skeptics among media outlets questioned the timing amid ongoing public interest in her dating patterns.

Awards and nominations

Major recognitions

Beckinsale's breakthrough role as in (2003) earned her a Saturn Award for in 2004 from the Academy of , Fantasy & Horror Films, highlighting her pivotal contribution to the action-horror genre and the film's establishment of a multimedia franchise. Her performance as the manipulative Lady Susan Vernon in the Jane Austen adaptation (2016) marked a critical peak, garnering the British/Irish Actress of the Year award from the London Film Critics' Circle in January 2017, as well as the New West End Company Award for at the Evening Standard British Film Awards in December 2016. The role also led to the Cinema Vanguard Award at the in September 2016, acknowledging her versatility in period comedy.

Industry accolades overview

Beckinsale has accumulated over 40 nominations across various industry awards, with a notable concentration in fan-voted and genre-specific categories that emphasize action, fantasy, and horror elements rather than dramatic roles. Her nominations frequently align with high-profile commercial franchises, such as the Underworld series, where she portrayed the vampire warrior Selene, highlighting a pattern of recognition for physically demanding, genre-driven performances over introspective or period dramas like The Last Days of Disco (1998) or Cold Comfort Farm (1995), which garnered minimal award attention. In MTV Movie Awards, Beckinsale earned nominations for Best Hero in 2006 for Underworld: Evolution and additional nods tied to earlier action entries, reflecting audience preference for her stunt-heavy sequences and on-screen intensity. Similarly, Teen Choice Awards recognized her in 2004 for Choice Movie Actress in Drama/Action Adventure and Choice Movie Chemistry, both linked to Underworld and Van Helsing, alongside a 2007 nomination for Choice Movie: Scream in Vacancy, underscoring teen demographic appeal in thriller and horror contexts. Genre honors further illustrate this skew, with a 2004 Saturn Award nomination for Best Actress in Underworld from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, and Scream Awards nods including Scream Queen contention in 2006 for Underworld: Evolution. These collectively exceed 20 nominations in such youth- and fan-centric outlets, prioritizing spectacle and franchise loyalty over nuanced character work. As of 2025, amid ongoing projects like the action-thriller Canary Black, this nomination trajectory persists without evident expansion into broader dramatic acclaim.

Filmography

Feature films

Beckinsale's feature film debut came in the supporting role of Hero in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (1993). Transitioning to leading roles in the early 2000s, she starred as Evelyn Johnson, a nurse entangled in a wartime romance, in Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor (2001), which earned $449 million worldwide. Her portrayal marked an entry into high-budget Hollywood productions, shifting from British period pieces to action-oriented blockbusters. Beckinsale achieved franchise stardom as the vampire death dealer in Len Wiseman's (2003), initiating a series that spanned five films and collectively grossed $680 million globally, emphasizing her pivot to supernatural action genres. She reprised the character in (2006), Underworld: Awakening (2012), and Underworld: Blood Wars (2016), with the role highlighting her physicality in fight choreography across vampire-werewolf conflicts. In subsequent years, she took on varied action leads, including Anna Valerious in Van Helsing (2004) and a supporting turn in Adam Sandler's Click (2006). More recently, Beckinsale led as Lindy Lewis, a woman managing through a shock vest, in the action-comedy Jolt (2021). Her latest role is CIA operative Avery Graves in the thriller (2024), where she undertakes a high-stakes mission to rescue her kidnapped husband amid terrorist threats.

Television and web series

Beckinsale's early television work included supporting roles in British productions. In 1991, she portrayed Barbe Lindell, the daughter of a operative, in the TV movie One Against the Wind, a drama directed by Larry Elikann and starring as her mother. The film, based on real events, depicted the Lindells' involvement in aiding Allied pilots in occupied . Four years later, in 1995, she took the lead role of Flora Poste, a young Londoner who modernizes a chaotic rural family, in the BBC's two-part adaptation of ' satirical novel . Her most prominent period television role came in 1996 with the title character in the ITV/A&E co-production of Jane Austen's Emma, a 107-minute adaptation directed by Diarmuid Lawrence. Beckinsale's portrayal of the meddlesome but ultimately self-aware Emma Woodhouse earned praise for its fidelity to the novel's wit and social commentary, co-starring Mark Strong as Mr. Knightley. Following this, Beckinsale largely shifted focus to feature films, resulting in sparse television output over the subsequent two decades, with no major series commitments amid her prioritization of cinematic action and drama roles. Beckinsale returned to leading television roles in streaming series during the late . She starred as Georgia Wells in The Widow, an eight-episode thriller co-produced by ITV and , which premiered on March 1, 2018, in the UK and March 15, 2019, in the . The series follows Wells, a former aid worker who, three years after her husband is presumed killed in a Congo plane crash, pursues leads suggesting his survival amid civil unrest and personal peril; Beckinsale performed her own stunts, drawing on her experience. In 2021, she headlined the Paramount+ comedy-drama Guilty Party as Beth Burgess, a fallen investigative embedding with a convicted murderer to revive her career, across 10 episodes that premiered on October 14. The show, created by , blended dark humor with ethical dilemmas in , marking Beckinsale's continued selective engagement with serialized formats.

Other media appearances

Beckinsale provided the voice for Queen Ayrenn, the leader of the Aldmeri Dominion, in the video game , released on March 4, 2014, for PC and later for consoles. She appeared as a woman in the music video for "Waltz Away Dreaming" by and Toby Bourke, released in 1997. Beckinsale narrated Jane Austen's in an audiobook edition made available through in 2018.

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  135. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8830959/Kate-Beckinsale-ambassador-baby-loss-support-charity-revealing-experience.html
  136. https://www.sayinggoodbye.org/about/people/ambassadors/
  137. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/kate-beckinsale-attends-the-11th-annual-white-tie-and-tiara-news-photo/115858150
  138. https://www.alamy.com/kate-beckinsale-arriving-at-the-17th-annual-elton-john-aids-foundation-oscar-party-at-the-pacific-design-center-west-hollywood-image389091783.html
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  140. https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/actress-kate-beckinsale-arrives-at-the-kinerase-skincare-news-photo/77111390
  141. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cox-raising-funds-rare-skin-107583/
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  147. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/sag-actresses-losing-48800/
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  149. https://people.com/movies/kate-beckinsale-claps-back-troll-goody-grace-age/
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  151. https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/stars-against-all-lives-matter-movement-photos-4090383/
  152. https://people.com/health/kate-beckinsale-claps-back-body-shamer-calls-her-dreadfully-thin/
  153. https://pagesix.com/2025/01/01/celebrity-news/kate-beckinsale-claps-back-at-trolls-who-think-shes-lost-too-much-weight/
  154. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/leylamohammed/kate-beckinsale-hits-back-cruel-body-shamers-weight-squats
  155. https://www.eonline.com/news/1411897/kate-beckinsale-addresses-rumors-she-kissed-ex-matt-rife-at-golden-globes-after-party
  156. https://people.com/kate-beckinsale-denies-kiss-matt-rife-globes-rep-exclusive-8770237
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  158. https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/what-happened-between-kate-beckinsale-and-matt-rife-at-golden-globes/
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  165. https://www.ultimatemovierankings.com/kate-beckinsale-movies/
  166. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20048582/
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  168. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7459986/
  169. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11999520/
  170. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3485722/characters/nm0000295/
  171. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Kate-Beckinsale/
  172. https://kate-beckinsale.com/career/
  173. https://www.openculture.com/2018/12/apple-lets-you-download-six-free-audio-books-read-by-celebrity-narrators.html
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