Background and Early Life

Kathrin Romary Beckinsale was born on July 26, 1973, in Chiswick, London, United Kingdom. She is the only child of actress Judy Loe and the late actor Richard Beckinsale. Although she does not have full siblings, she has an older half-sister, Samantha Beckinsale, who is also an actress from her father’s previous marriage. Kate was deeply affected by the death of her father, who passed away from a heart attack when she was five years old. Struggling with grief during her teenage years, she battled anorexia at the age of 15 and subsequently underwent four years of therapy.

Acting Career and Breakthrough Roles

Beckinsale began gaining international attention in the late 1990s after a series of strong performances. In 1998, she starred in The Last Days of Disco, marking her Hollywood debut, and followed it with a noteworthy role in Brokedown Palace (1999), for which she received recognition from the London Critics Circle Film Awards.

She reached mainstream success with her leading role in the blockbuster film Pearl Harbor (2001), co-starring Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett. Subsequent films like The Golden Bowl and Serendipity further solidified her status in the film industry. However, her most commercially successful project has been the Underworld franchise, with the first film released in 2003, grossing over $95 million worldwide.

Public Image and Fitness

Kate Beckinsale has remained a prominent figure in the public eye, often praised for her fitness and ageless appearance. In July 2019, she garnered attention on social media after posting a mirror selfie showcasing her toned physique. The post, in which she wore black workout leggings and a crop top with her hair tied in a high ponytail, received widespread admiration from fans and further cemented her status as a fitness icon.

Marriage to Len Wiseman

In 2003, Beckinsale met film director Len Wiseman on the set of Underworld. The pair married on May 9, 2004, in Bel-Air, California. Their marriage lasted for over a decade until they announced their separation in November 2015, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in 2016.

Relationship with Michael Sheen and Family Life

Before her marriage to Wiseman, Beckinsale was in a long-term relationship with actor Michael Sheen. The two met in 1995 while working on a stage production of The Seagull. Although they never married, the couple welcomed a daughter, Lily Mo Sheen, in 1999. Despite their separation in 2003, Beckinsale and Sheen have maintained a strong co-parenting relationship and have remained close for the benefit of their daughter.