Kate Kicks Ass

Kate BeckinsaleKate Beckinsale is a bit of an English rose.

But don't let her hear you say that.

She may well lay the smacketh downeth.

Because this lovely lady does not want such a label attached to her.

Hence the reason she took on her role in the vampire flick Underworld - where she threw off her prissy costume drama corsets and buckled up in a skin-tight leather catsuit.

She wanted to ditch the casting stereotype... and stop playing roles as a wimpy Brit.

But she does find it rather hilarious that peeps now think she can, as they say in her new neck of the woods, kick ass.

She told the Daily Express: "This is still a complete riot to me that anyone lets me be in an action movie.

"Before I did Underworld, every time I walked into a room I would think there was a whiff of crumpets and fine china.

"If the character was a cop or whatever, it was 'No, Kate's from England'.

"So I just wanted to do something with a bit more edge and then it took off a little bit more than I thought it would."