Kate Beckinsale was born on July 26, 1973, in West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth, Middlesex, England. She has resided in London for most of her life. Her mother, Judy Loe, is an actress who has appeared in numerous British dramas and sitcoms. Her father, Richard Beckinsale, was a popular British television comedian who starred in shows like Rising Damp, Porridge, and The Lovers. He passed away tragically early at the age of 31 when Kate was just five years old. Her mother, Judy Loe, never remarried, and Kate's grandmother moved in to help her mother raise Kate.
Kate attended the private Godolphin and Latymer School in London for her primary and secondary education. She was an avid writer and won the British bookseller W.H. Smith Young Writers' competition twice for her short stories and poems. Kate struggled with anorexia during her teenage years, but she eventually overcome it and developed a smoking habit.
After completing her secondary education, Kate attended Oxford University's New College, where she majored in French and Russian literature. During her time at Oxford, Kate received her big break in Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. She also worked in three other films while attending Oxford, including the medieval historical drama Royal Deceit and the contemporary mystery drama Uncovered.
Kate's experience living on her own in Paris, France, during her third year at Oxford University made her re-evaluate her life and career choices. She eventually decided to leave Oxford and focus on her acting career. Kate's early film career included roles in the BBC/Thames Television satire Cold Comfort Farm and the romance/horror movie Haunted.
In the late 1990s, Kate appeared in several films, including the British ITV production of Jane Austen's novel Emma and the comedy Shooting Fish. She also had a daughter, Lily, in 1999 with actor Michael Sheen.
