‘I am a very poor substitute’: Kate Beckinsale lets the world in on the ‘deeply painful’ time of her life

Kate Beckinsale has opened up about going through one of the most difficult periods of her life. The actress recently shared emotional moments with her mother in the hospital while dealing with personal struggles that have affected her physical appearance.

The 51-year-old Underworld star posted a video on Instagram showing herself singing to her mother, Judy Loe, who is currently hospitalized. In the clip, Beckinsale can be seen getting emotional while performing The Everly Brothers’ 1958 song Bye Bye Love. The song holds special meaning as it honors a harmony group that her 78-year-old mother used to be part of with her close friends when they were teenagers.

“I am a very poor substitute, not being a very good singer,” Beckinsale wrote in her Instagram caption. “But I want my mum’s dearest and oldest friends in her hospital room with her.” The actress explained that she was trying to keep the spirit of her mother’s old group, called the Four Teens, alive from a distance. According to Page Six, she also reached out to two of her mother’s friends, Sylvia and Chris, expressing her love and efforts to maintain their connection.

Kate Beckinsale responds to criticism about her weight loss

The actress has been dealing with public comments about her dramatic weight loss in recent months. Earlier this month, she shared photos of herself in bikinis, which prompted some followers to express concern about her appearance. One person commented that she did not look good and suggested she needed help.

Beckinsale responded directly to the criticism, writing, ‘Yes, I do. I’m going through one of the most deeply painful times of my life,’ continuing her pattern of speaking out against industry mistreatment. The body keeps the score.” Her response referenced a well-known book about trauma by Bessel van der Kolk. The actress appeared noticeably thinner in recent photos and videos, including one where she was walking her dog while wearing shorts and a bikini top.

This is not the first time Beckinsale has faced public scrutiny about her body, having previously defended herself against plastic surgery rumors and appearance-related criticism. Last year, she was hospitalized due to a hole in her esophagus, which led to body-shaming comments from some people online. During that same period, she also dealt with the death of her stepfather, Roy Battersby. The actress has previously spoken out against critics who comment on her physical appearance.

While Beckinsale has not shared specific details about her mother’s current hospital stay, she revealed last year that Loe was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. In February, she asked her social media followers to say a “spare prayer” for her mother. The actress praised her mother’s ability to maintain deep friendships throughout her life, noting that her relationships with school friends from decades ago remain strong and current.