Beneath the Fragility: Unveiling Kate Beckinsale's Spectacular Transformation into an Overnight Action Hero in Underworld

Summary

Kate Beckinsale initially had reservations about taking on the action-heavy role in Underworld due to people not perceiving her as an action star.

Beckinsale discloses that she required substantial guidance to prepare for the role of Selene, noting her initial struggle with basic physical tasks such as running and throwing punches.

Beckinsale's compelling depiction of Selene as a formidable warrior, possessing exceptional physical abilities, played a pivotal role in the triumph of the Underworld franchise. Furthermore, her participation has played a significant part in ensuring the lasting success of the franchise.

Underworld star Kate Beckinsale admits she didn't have a natural talent for being an action star. She shares how she prepared for her role as Selene in the 2003 film. Beckinsale portrays a vampire assassin caught in a war between vampires and Lycans, a species of werewolf. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the movie gained popularity among audiences, leading to four sequels featuring Beckinsale as Selene.

During a recent interview with Yahoo! to commemorate Underworld's 20th anniversary, Beckinsale reflects on her initial concerns about taking on a physically demanding role. However, she quickly adapted and excelled in portraying a character like Selene. Read Beckinsale's comments on accepting the role below.

"I'll be spending some time in America and occasionally auditioning for roles such as a police officer or a tougher character. However, people often perceive me as too Jane Austen-like and associated with period dramas, considering me somewhat fragile. This perception bothered me, and I wanted to change it.

Unexpectedly, a script came my way, and I hesitated, unsure if I could take on this new type of role. It hadn't even crossed my mind before."

“It was incredibly terrifying for me as I had no prior experience in handling firearms. When faced with the situation, my instinctive reaction was to flee like a frightened individual. It was an absolute catastrophe, and I required extensive guidance and support to overcome my fear. I distinctly recall the stuntmen being utterly horrified as they witnessed my struggles. They would instruct me to throw a few punches, but their reaction would be one of astonishment, realizing that it would take a considerable amount of time for me to master it.”

Kate Beckinsale's Impact On Underworld Explained

Beckinsale's portrayal as an action hero is crucial for a franchise like Underworld to succeed. Just like Milla Jovovich in the Resident Evil franchise, Underworld heavily relies on its female lead character's ability to effectively combat horrifying creatures and powerful adversaries.

Selene's commanding presence on-screen is a key factor in her success as a protagonist. In the Underworld movies, her character is renowned as a warrior, and if Beckinsale couldn't capture that physicality, the entire premise would crumble. Regardless of her ability to excel in quieter, more emotional scenes, her lack of conviction while handling a gun, running, or throwing a punch would completely break the illusion of the movie.

While the dark and monster-infested world of the Underworld franchise contributes to its appeal, it's ultimately the characters that make this world captivating. Selene, appearing in all five movies, has played a crucial role in the franchise's longevity, and it's difficult to envision its continuation without Beckinsale's involvement. Beckinsale's skill in embodying an action hero was so impressive that she went on to undertake numerous other action-packed roles after the success of Underworld.

Source: Yahoo!