Kate Beckinsale sexiest woman in the world

British actress Kate Beckinsale has been named Esquire magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive.

Kathryn Bailey "Kate" Beckinsale born 26 July 1973 is an English actress. Her best known films include Pearl Harbor in 2001, Underworld in 2003, Van Helsing in 2004, and Click in 2006.

The 36-year-old actress has taken the crown from Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, who was named last year's sexiest lady. Beckinsale, however, insists her brothers won't let the new title go to her head, reports accesshollywood.com.

Born in Finsbury Park, London, Beckinsale is the daughter of actor Richard Beckinsale, who died from a heart attack in 1979, and actress Judy Loe. She has a paternal half-sister, Samantha, who is also an actress. Her paternal great-grandfather was Burmese, and she has said that she was "very oriental-looking" as a child.

"This whole notion of being named Sexiest Woman Alive is going to earn me quite a beating. You can't have that title with four brothers. I'll get wedgies. Headlocks. Noogies (knuckles to the head)... I'm feeling that I must earn this - I need to go out and become much better at pole dancing or something," she said.