After disclosing how “Pearl Harbor” director Michael Bay told her to shed pounds for her pivotal role back in 2001 (and believe us, she looked skinny enough in the film), Kate Beckinsale has managed to keep all the pounds off at age 42. That’s right, this 40-something-like woman is still as tiny as she was when she first exploded into Hollywood.
Kate Beckinsale captivates with a sleek metal neckline in her Thierry Mugler dress, perfectly complemented by minimal makeup and a confident gaze (Credit: Euan Cherry / Joe / WENN)
In an interview with Women’s Health magazine, the 46-year-old actress revealed that her fitness journey began after a negative experience with director Michael Bay, who asked her to lose weight for her role in the 2001 film Pearl Harbor.
“It wasn’t great, it didn’t make me feel good, and in general, I think women are body-shamed 100 million percent more than men. But on this particular project, I wasn’t,” Beckinsale stated.
“Ben [Affleck], who’d already done a movie with the director, was like, ‘This happened to me. They made me get new teeth.’ And I was like, ‘Cool, at least I get to hang on to my actual teeth.'”
Kate showed off her svelte figure at the “Love and Friendship” premiere in London.
Kate Beckinsale stuns in a bold Thierry Mugler dress with a metal neckline and Stuart Weitzman ‘Nudistsong’ sandals at the ‘Love and Friendship’ UK premiere in London on May 24, 2016 (Credit: Euan Cherry / Joe / WENN)
The Revealing Thierry Mugler Dress
Kate wore a revealing dress by Thierry Mugler, which showed off a bit of her abs and her incredibly toned back. The actress styled her metal neckline gown with Jennifer Fisher jewelry and a purse from Treesje.
She also showed off her wild toes in silver “Nudistsong” ankle-strap sandals by Stuart Weitzman. Do you notice the easily preventable toe overhang?
Kate Beckinsale’s wild toes in classic Stuart Weitzman Nudistsong sandals (Credit: Euan Cherry / Joe / WENN)
The Pressure of Hollywood Standards
Everybody knows that the showbiz industry is especially cruel to women, especially with fat-shaming and the like, and it looks like director Michael Bay’s words have stuck with Kate for the past 15 years.
Kate Beckinsale exudes confidence as she arrives at the ‘Love and Friendship’ UK premiere, showcasing a bold Thierry Mugler dress with a striking metal neckline (Credit: Euan Cherry / Joe / WENN)
Kate Beckinsale on Working with Michael Bay
Kate Beckinsale shared her experience working with Michael Bay on the Graham Norton Show, revealing that he was surprised by her appearance. She didn’t fit his usual preference for actresses with larger breasts and blonde hair.
“I don’t think I fit the type of actress Michael Bay had met before,” Beckinsale said during an interview on the Graham Norton Show. “I think he was baffled by me because my boobs weren’t bigger than my head and I wasn’t blonde.”
Despite losing weight after having her daughter, she was still told to work out for her role, which she found unnecessary for playing a 1940s nurse.
“I’d just had my daughter and had lost weight but was told that if I got the part, I’d have to work out,” she added. “And I just didn’t understand why a 1940s nurse would do that.”
During the film’s promotion, Bay praised her male co-stars, Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett, but commented that he chose Beckinsale because she wasn’t “so attractive that she would alienate the female audience.”
“When we were promoting the film, Michael was asked why he had chosen Ben [Affleck] and Josh [Hartnett], and he said, ‘I have worked with Ben before and I love him, and Josh is so manly and a wonderful actor,'” she said.
“Then when he was asked about me, he’d say, ‘Kate wasn’t so attractive that she would alienate the female audience.'”
You can buy her classic ‘Nudistsong’ heels at Nordstrom and Zappos.
Stuart Weitzman “Nudistsong” Sandals: A Fashion Staple
Stuart Weitzman “Nudistsong” Glitter Sandals, $199.99 – $415