This weekend, with a $25 million box office take, Kate Beckinsale proved once again that she's one of the few female stars who can open a movie franchise. "Underworld Awakening" is the fourth movie in the saga of Beckinsale's leather-clad Selene character, which has grossed $337 million worldwide.
Until the first "Underworld" movie in 2003, however, Beckinsale's career was a modest one. You may have seen her with John Cusack in "Serendipity," but did you remember her in "Laurel Canyon," "The Golden Bowl," or the infamous straight-to-video fiasco "Tiptoes"?
There's more to the mother of 11-year-old Lily Mo and wife of director Len Wiseman than looking good while fighting werewolves.
Beckinsale studied at Oxford, hates exercise—despite her well-toned physique—and allegedly shuns cosmetic surgery.
Sure, she’s famous for “Pearl Harbor" and the “Underworld” series, but those blockbuster roles only came after her performances in smaller movies, such as the British multi-cast starrer “Much Ado About Nothing,” and the indie films "The Last Days of Disco" and “Snow Angels.”
With "Underworld: Awakening" and "Contraband" out this weekend, both of which are already making waves at the box office, here's why Beckinsale can’t be stopped.
1973: Kate comes from acting royalty
Kate Beckinsale was born in London to respected actors Richard Beckinsale (seen here at far right) and Judy Loe. Richard is most notable for his hilarious role on the British sitcom "Porridge" alongside funnyman Ronnie Barker. Richard was also set to star in the late '70s BBC2 show, "Bloomers," but he passed away before filming ended.
1979: Her father died young
At the age of five, Beckinsale's father passed away due to a sudden heart attack. Beckinsale stated in an interview that though she was young, she hasn’t forgotten her father. “There are certainly enough memories for me not to feel that it's somebody I didn't know.”
A few years later, her mother married director Roy Chattersby. Beckinsale touted him as a wonderful, kind and patient stepfather. “He's been so brilliant. He wasn't pushy, he let me come to him,” she explained.
1988: She battled an eating disorder
Beckinsale has been open about her personal life, but that openness went a new level when she revealed that at age 15, she struggled with anorexia.
She attributed her disorder to her father’s death, and rather than keep it hidden, Beckinsale went to her mother and requested Freudian analysis to get help.
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