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Kate Beckinsale (born July 26, 1973) is an English actress. She is the daughter of British television actors Richard Beckinsale and Judy Loe, and her birth name is Kate Beckinsale Loe. Her father died in 1979, at the age of 31.
After finishing school in London, she gradually began acting, thus following in the footsteps of her parents. In 1991 she played a role in a television film about World War II, through which she became widely known by the British public. The film was also broadcast in America at the end of that year. Beckinsale then began studying French and Russian literature at New College, Oxford University. In interviews she commented that she felt the university background would be better for her than attending a school of performing arts.
During her first year at Oxford, Beckinsale was offered a part in Kenneth Branagh's big-screen film, Much Ado About Nothing, adapted from Shakespeare's famous comedy of the same name. This was her big breakthrough in movies and opened doors to work in several other films, which she did whilst at Oxford. She spent her last year of studies in Paris, where she was acquainted with the French culture. There she decided to quit university and concentrate on her acting career. Since then she has played in several major movies, but has also appeared in television films and on the stage.
Beckinsale and actor Michael Sheen have a daughter, Lily, but they are no longer together. In June 2003, she became engaged to the director of Underworld, Len Wiseman, and the two were wed in May 2004 in Bel-Air, California.
Filmography
- Underworld: Evolution (2005) - Selene
- The Aviator (2004) - Ava Gardner
- Van Helsing (2004) - Anna Valerious
- Underworld (2003) - Selene
- Tiptoes (2003) - Carol
- Laurel Canyon (2002) - Alex
- Pearl Harbor (2001) - Evelyn Johnson
- Serendipity (2001) - Sara Thomas
- The Golden Bowl (2000) - Maggie Verver
- Brokedown Palace (1999) - Darlene Davis
- The Last Days of Disco (1998) - Charlotte Pingress
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998) (TV) - Alice
- Shooting Fish (1997) - Georgie
- Emma (1997)(TV) - Emma Woodhouse
- Haunted (1995) - Christina Mariell
- Cold Comfort Farm (1995) (TV) - Flora Poste
- Marie-Louise ou la permission (1995) - Marie-Louise
- Prince of Jutland (1994) - Ethel
- Uncovered (1994) - Julia
- Much Ado About Nothing (1993) - Hero
- Rachel's Dream (1992) (TV) - Rachel
- One Against the Wind (1991) (TV) - Barbe Lindell
- Deviced and Desires (mini series) (1991) - Young Alice Mair
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