Kate Beckinsale

Kathryn Bailey "Kate" Beckinsale (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). 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. 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 was also starring in the film. She became involved with the director of the film, Len Wiseman. In June 2003, Beckinsale became engaged to Wiseman, and the two were married on 9 May 2004 in Bel-Air, California. She is close friends with Victoria Beckham.

HOW DO YOU STAY IN SHAPE?

I have to be dragged to the gym because I hated PE at school and would much prefer to sit down and smoke a cigarette. I don't take growth hormone pills or do eight hours of yoga a day or anything like that.

Seriously, I don't love going to the gym, but I do think it's one of those things you have to do, especially if one wants to work in this town.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN FASHION?

Yes, I do like clothes. I prefer to be on the Best Dressed list than any other list. But the truth is it's not my goal in life.

EVER HAD A FASHION DISASTER?

Not a recent one, but I distinctively remember as a child my mother used to cut my hair. I'd move around a lot, and so I always had a lopsided fringe.

WHAT BRAND OF JEANS DO YOU WEAR? Nothing too fancy. I still like the old classic Levi's. WHAT'S IN YOUR CAPSULE WARDROBE - PIECES THAT YOU WEAR ALL THE TIME?

I love to feel comfortable, especially if I'm running after my daughter. I have an old Juicy couture tracksuit, which I wear a lot. I know it's not glamorous, but I can't seem to throw it away.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE BRANDS OF COSMETICS?

I love Laura Mercier's tinted moisturiser, which always gives me a good base. MAC's eyeshadow in Vanilla and Wedge are also a permanent fixture in my make-up bag. I don't tend to do much with my lips.

WHAT MAKE-UP ITEM DO YOU ALWAYS CARRY?

I always seem to carry Sponge Bob plasters in my handbag. Obviously they are Lilly's, but it turns out I'm the one who ends up needing them. I'm a bit of a klutz.

DO YOU HAVE A HAIR CARE ROUTINE?

I swear by Terax Original shampoo and conditioner - I even use them on Lilly's hair.

DO YOU HAVE A SIGNATURE SCENT?

My husband is a big fan of the Jessica Simpson Dessert line. He will literally come at me with a spoon and a fork when I wear it. It kind of smells like cake batter.

DO YOU HAVE A STYLE ICON?

I'm a big fan of the old Hollywood stars - very classic looking. I loved the way Ava Gardner dressed, very poised and feminine. I played her in The Aviator and adored wearing her beautiful fitted dresses. She was very curvaceous. I envy those curves.

IF YOU WANT TO LOOK GLAMOROUS, WHICH DESIGNER DO YOU RELY ON

You can't really go wrong with Gucci now. I always feel glamorous wearing a flowing Gucci number, no matter what kind of day.

DOES A STYLIST SHOP FOR YOU?

Oh God no! That would be very nice to have a personal shopper. I do like to shop for myself, but my attention-is usually on Lilly. When I'm in London, I love to pop into Topshop and spend a few hours browsing.

WHAT IS YOUR SKIN CARE REGIME?

My skin is particularly dry, so I make a point of drinking lots of water. For Click, I had to age up to 55 years old and they put prosthetics and glue on my face every day, which wasn't too kind to my skin. I used Clean & Clear facial cleanser to wash it all off and then applied that very expensive Natura Bisse Diamond cream.

HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SAW A WOMAN OF 55 IN THE MIRROR?

I think at some point everybody turns into their mother or their father. It's just not normally from morning to afternoon.

And it gives you a moment of existential panic because you sit there for six whole hours and it goes on and on. They also modelled my hair on the style my mother wore at my wedding, so that was spooky