Kathryn Bailey "Kate", Beckinsale (born July 26, 1973, in London), is an English actress, known for her roles in the films Pearl Harbor (2001), Van Helsing (2004), and Underworld (2003). Beckinsale attended the private Godolphin and Latymer School,[2] and in her teens twice won the W. H. Smith Young Writers' competition — once for three short stories and once for three poems. During her first year at Oxford, Beckinsale was offered a part in Kenneth Branagh's big-screen film, Much Ado About Nothing, adapted from the Shakespeare play. 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 2006, Beckinsale was placed at #23 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World. |
