Kate Beckinsale
Biography
Kate
Beckinsale is poised for major stardom. Already a huge hit in Britain,
her role in what looks to be 2001's summer blockbuster, Pearl Harbor,
has her set to be Hollywood's next big thing. The road to stardom,
however, hasn't been easy.
Kate
had acting in her blood; her mother Judy Loe is a casting director
for the BBC and has appeared in numerous British sitcoms, and father
Richard Beckinsale rose to comedic fame in Britain. Growing up in
a famous household had its perks.
Kate
was able to attend exclusive schools growing up, enrolling at Flexlands
Private School in London. Kate started flexing her creative muscle
early, beginning ballet lessons and getting involved in numerous
creative writing avenues. She went on to win the W.H. Smith Young
Writer's competition twice in her teens.
But in
1979, tragedy struck. Her father died of a heart attack, leaving
Kate's mother to raise the 6 year old alone. This coupled with normal
teenage growth and development saw Kate battle through anorexia
and eventually develop a fairly chronic smoking habit, which she
currently maintains. She was able to fight off the anorexia, but
the disorder caused her teenage years to be tumultuous ones.
In 1991,
however, life took a positive turn, as Kate nailed a role in the
television film Once Against the Wind. Kate had decided that she
might want to follow in her parents' footsteps and become an actress
on her own accord, and this role was perfect for her. However, it
didn't fully convince her, so she decided to pursue a career via
college. She applied and matriculated at New College Oxford, where
she studied French and Russian literature.
It was
during her third year that she made the decision to leave school
to pursue acting full time. She had been studying abroad in Paris,
and the time away from the crunch of schoolwork and demands of college
life gave her some space to evaluate the direction her life was
taking. She decided that her heart lie in acting, so she abandoned
her education and chose to focus solely on her passion.
Her choice
turned out to be a good one. She finally hit the big time in her
role as hero in Kenneth Branagh's 1993 Much Ado About Nothing. The
film was Kate's first to receive international appeal, and exposured
her to the critical American audience. She continued working on
a number of films in Britain, but two subsequent Hollywood releases
would prove pivotal stepping stones. The Last Days of Disco, an
odd film that received reviews across the board was important, but
her role in the Claire Dane's film Brokedown Palace, although not
a box office success, nor critical success for that matter, simply
offered up the exposure this British lass was searching for.
After
that, all it took was a little fate. For some reason, Charlize Theron,
an actress who seems to be unable to refuse any role pushed her
way (she admits disappointment over being passed over in favor of
Elizabeth Berkely for Showgirls) pulled out of Pearl Harbor. Her
decision to pull out in favor of Sweet Novemeber ranks right up
there with Janeane Garofalo's decision to pass on the role of Gail
Weathers in the Scream trilogy in favor of a film that eventually
went straight to video. Nonetheless, the producers scrambled to
replace Theron and chose Kate. The film promises to expand Kate's
audience and showcase her talent.
Off the
screen, Kate has dated Michael Sheen for a number of years. The
two have a daughter together.
Kate Beckinsale Filmography
Click (2006) .... Donna
Newman
Underworld: Evolution (2005) .... Selene
The Aviator (2004) .... Ava Gardner
Van Helsing (2004) .... Anna Valerious
Tiptoes (2003) .... Carol
... aka Tiny Tiptoes (France)
Underworld (2003) .... Selene
Laurel Canyon (2002) .... Alex
Serendipity (2001) .... Sara Thomas
Pearl Harbor (2001) .... Nurse Lt. Evelyn Johnson
The Golden Bowl (2000) .... Maggie Verver
... aka Coupe d'or, La (France)
Brokedown Palace (1999) .... Darlene Davis
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1999) (V) ....
Girl ('Waltz Away Dreaming' video)
Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998) (TV) .... Alice
The Last Days of Disco (1998) .... Charlotte Pingress
Shooting Fish (1997) .... Georgie
Emma (1997) (TV) .... Emma Woodhouse
Haunted (1995) .... Christina Mariell
Marie-Louise ou la permission (1995) .... Marie-Louise
Cold Comfort Farm (1995) (TV) .... Flora Poste
Prince of Jutland (1994) .... Ethel
... aka Amled, prinsen af Jylland (Denmark)
... aka Prinsen af Jylland (Denmark: video title)
... aka Royal Deceit (USA)
Uncovered (1994) .... Julia
... aka Tabla de Flandes, La (Spain)
Much Ado About Nothing (1993) .... Hero
Rachel's Dream (1992) (TV) .... Rachel
One Against the Wind (1991) (TV) .... Barbe Lindell
"Devices and Desires" (1991) (mini) TV Series (voice)
.... Young Alice Mair |
