'A woman's body is generally under some sort of attack': Underworld star Kate Beckinsale reveals... after climbing into THAT penis costume
She revealed that she hasn't always been the 'sporty type' often preferring to escape into a good book as a child.
But Kate Beckinsale, 43, said her ongoing role in the Underworld series has helped her gain a 'confidence and strength' to take on the powerful female lead.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the 43-year-old actress spoke about how important her role has been because a 'woman's body is generally under some sort of attack'.
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'To have a sense of confidence in your body is really important': Kate Beckinsale talks about what it is like to be a strong female lead character in the ongoing Underworld series
'To have a sense of mastery and confidence and strength in your body is really important just to withstand all that,' said Beckinsale.
'A woman's body is generally under some sort of attack or unwelcome attention at some point in their life,' she added.
A strong advocate for female rights, Beckinsale explained that as a mother those values are something she promotes in her household as well.
'My daughter doesn't think it's at all unusual for a female lead action star to be number one at the box office.
Bookworm: Although she mostly plays powerful athletic roles now Beckinsale revealed that she hasn't always been the 'sporty type' often preferring to escape into a good book as a child
'But we were at the very beginning of all that and I feel very privileged to be a part of moving the needle,' she finished.
At the beginning of her career Beckinsale was known for her roles in period dramas such as Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing and John Schlesinger's Cold Comfort Farm.
But the shift to strong female roles has seen the brunette beauty hit cinemas in movies such as Total Recall, Van Helsing and the Underworld series to name a few.
Powerful: At the beginning of her career she was known for roles in films such as Much Ado About Nothing (L) later moving to strong female leads such as her role in Underworld (R)
Beckinsale's strong pursuit for female equality is often seen posted across social media.
Fairly new to social media, Beckinsale explained that the antics which she now posts to the world, are no different to what she would share with close friends and family.
One post saw the British-born actress wearing a penis costume in a photo captioned: 'Just a girl trying to make it in a man's world.'
'Just a girl trying to make it in a man's world': Beckinsale's strong pursuit for female equality is often seen posted across social media
And in another, Beckinsale admits that when she acted alongside Emma Thompson in her first movie that she grew out her armpit hair - a common stance for female empowerment.
At the time Beckinsale admits that she was persuaded to do it because of her Idol and co-star Emma Thompson in one of her first movies.
She wrote: 'If you get to work with Emma Thompson on your first movie the luckiest lucky thing has already happened to you.
'She made me grow my armpit hair out': Beckinsale also admits in her first movie she grew out her armpit hair for Emma Thompson (sitting up) - a common stance for female empowerment
'The classiest class act ever invented. By the way she was writing Sense and Sensibility between takes.
'She made me grow my armpit hair out for the movie and I loved her so much I left it like that the entire next year at college and resembled a small baboon.'
Beckinsale will take on her fifth film in the Underworld series, Underworld: Blood Wars, which is set to hit cinemas December 1.
Coming soon: Beckinsale will take on her fifth film in the Underworld series, Underworld: Blood Wars, which is set to hit cinemas December 1
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