KATE BECKINSALE

      An Oxford alum with a number of starring roles already under her young belt, Kate Beckinsale comes from a good stock of thespian blood. Her mother is actress Judy Loe, who has appeared in number of British dramas and sitcoms. Her father Richard Beckinsale [deceased/1979], starred in a number of popular British television comedies during the 1970s. With that kind of blood coursing through her viens it's not surprising that growing up she would often put on shows, loving the center of attention.
      Kate attended Godolphin and Latymer School in London, and twice she won a Young Writers award for her fiction and poetry. Her major acting debut came in a World War II television movie One Against the Wind, in 1991. Soon after, she began attending Oxford University's New College, majoring in French and Russian literature. It was during her first year at Oxford that she nabbed a role in Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of "Much Ado About Nothing". Needless to say, Kate was a very busy young lady. Aside from her studies, she worked in three other films while attending Oxford.
      In the spring of 1994 Kate left Oxford, and after exploring various options, she finally decided that acting was the life she wanted to pursue. Decision made, she went on to appear in the satire Cold Comfort Farm, which opened to spectacular reviews in the United States, grossing over $5 million U.S. during its American run.
      Her big movie of 1995 was the romance/horror movie Haunted, starring opposite Adian Quinn and Sir John Gielgud. But it was roles in more mainstream flicks such as The Last Days Of Disco, and Brokedown Palace, opposite Claire Danes, that brought her to the attention of a much larger audience.
      Kate is married to Michael Sheen. They have one daughter, Lily, born 1999.
Photo © Diego Uchitel - Bio by ThespianNet.Com © 2001