Kate Beckinsale has a thing for black latex

THE 36-year-old British actresss rocketed to fame in hits such as Brokedown Palace and Pearl Harbor before transforming herself into the big screen's sexiest vampire in Underworld. Now's she's juggling motherhood with a career that's busier than ever.

You've swapped the PVC catsuit you wear in Underworld for a parka and snowboots in Antartica thriller Whiteout. It's had mixed reviews. How did it work out for you?

Actually it's one of the best experiences I've ever had. The cast and crew were wonderful. I think it's something to do with being in the snow every day. You had to wade through eight feet of the stuff to get to the director so the cast got very close.

Tell us about the plot.

I play US Marshal Carrie Stetko. Her job is quite clerical at first and it's more like an endurance test. But then a body is discovered on the ice and things escalate. The peril is two-fold - obviously from whoever is responsible for the killing and, of course, from the extreme environment.

There's a scene in which you have to drive, but isn't it true that you've never passed your test?

That's right. I haven't ever learned how to drive. I wish I could because I get these anxiety dreams where I'm suddenly in control of a car on the motorway. I drove a golf cart on holiday and did quite admirably with that. That's a start!

Can't you get it in your contract that you don't have to get behind the wheel?

No. I'm constantly having to do it. I drive in EVERY movie. I drove a 20ft truck in Underworld. On this film I had to say: "You do know I don't know how to drive?" And everyone thought it was a joke. And I said: "I really DON'T know how to drive and I'm not insured and you can't let me drive." And they go: "S***, now we've got to find money for one of those things to pull you along." It's become more embarrassing as I've got older. One day I'll get there.

In 2002, you worked with Batman star Christian Bale on Laurel Canyon. If he pulled a few strings and got you the role of Catwoman, would you take it?

Because I have a thing for black latex? I do. I know we all do. So let's join hands for a moment! I don't know. I just think Michelle Pfeiffer was such an awesome Catwoman I would be really intimidated to get into that suit after she filled it. But I don't know if my husband would ever talk to me again if I turned it down. So I'd have to give it some very heavy consideration.

You met your husband Len Wiseman when you were cast in one of his films didn't you?

Yes, I met him on Underworld. We got together, got married and then we did Underworld: Evolution. Now they've done Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans but I'm not in that. My daughter's biological dad, Michael Sheen, is the lead in that one - so we have this little family franchise going on.

What made you turn down the third film in the trilogy?

I'd never played the same character twice until Underworld and, for me, most of the fun is to discover the character. I don't know if I'd ever really want to do it a third time. You know, fortunately Michael was available, so he kept it in the family.

Have you been approached to do a James Bond film?

I have. I can't remember which one because it wasn't recently but I don't know if I'd do it. I've embarrassed my daughter enough in terms of the fact that you always have to be in your underwear at some point and I'm becoming a bit too elderly for that sort of thing. Once your child is eight or nine it gets a bit embarrassing for them. That was the whole question with Wonder Woman - which I was linked to - because her costume is still essentially underwear.

You've already done Whiteout and the movie Fragments this year. What's next?

Everybody's Fine with Robert De Niro and Drew Barrymore is coming out later this year. Then everything will be out.

And how was it working with De Niro?

Amazing. I'd come across him years ago when he was putting together a reading of The Good Shepherd. I had a panic phone call the night before saying: "Somebody has dropped out of this reading with Robert De Niro. Can you do three different accents by tomorrow: German, Brooklyn and Russian?" I thought: "Oh God, OK." I figured out the accents and showed up and De Niro said: "I've invited a few friends." They were Martin Scorsese and A Bronx Tale's Chazz Palminteri! And I thought: "F***, I've got a Brooklyn accent to do and all these real New Yorkers are sitting here. This is terrible." I was sweating, thinking: "Oh my God, I'm from West London, I've got no business being here. I want to die." In the end it went OK and they were very nice, but it was one of the more hair-raising moments in my life.

Did De Niro remind you of the incident when you were on set this time?

I think he'd forgotten about it! I was more concerned about my nine-year-old daughter, Lily. She plays the young me, because all of us have flashbacks to when we were kids.

How did she get the part?

They'd done extensive casting and found kids that looked like Drew Barrymore and Sam Rockwell. The director said to me: "Could Lily audition?" And I said, "Over my dead body." I thought if she didn't get it she'd come to the set with me, see the child playing the young me and make that face like Joan Crawford in the beginning of Whatever Happened To Baby Jane. But Lily heard me saying no and was furious. There were 100 kids auditioning but amazingly she got it. And in the end I was really pleased.

Was she nervous?

Actually I was more nervous! I'm quite scared of De Niro as I had a picture of him on my fridge at college and it felt really weird to be working with him. Lily was bummed out that it wasn't somebody famous like George Clooney or SpongeBob Square Pants. She's not intimidated, had a great time and did really well.

Is there anybody that Lily wants to see you work with?

She's really retro so says: "I wish you could work with Joan Crawford or Janis Joplin." I'm like: "They're dead now. It's not going to happen." She's into Marilyn Monroe and John Lennon too.

Not your average nine-year-old then?

I have a bit of an eccentric one! She likes The Beatles and is desperate to meet Paul and Ringo. She has great taste.

WHITEOUT is in cinemas now. Everybody's Fine is set for release in December.

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