Kate Beckinsale was ordered to 'work out' for her role in Pearl Harbour

Right.

Words by Jadie Troy-Pryde

This week we celebrated International Women's Day, and we looked at how being a woman has changed over 100 years. Considering everything that's currently happening politically, it's more important than ever to stand up for equal rights between the sexes and celebrate all the strong, influential women across the world.

So when we heard this news about Kate Beckinsale, all we could do was sigh.

Before securing her role as the leading lady in Pearl Harbour back in 2001, Kate revealed that she was ordered to work out if she wanted a part in the film.

She also said that her body didn't 'fit' what director, Michael Bay, was looking for at the time.

Speaking to Graham Norton, the actress admitted: 'I don't think I fitted the type of actress Michael Bay, the director, had met before.

'I think he was baffled by me because my boobs weren't bigger than my head and I wasn't blonde. I'd just had my daughter and lost weight but was told that if I got the part I'd have to work out and I just didn't understand why a 1940s nurse would do that.'

Kate also confessed that he didn't deem her 'attractive', saying: 'When he was asked about me, he'd say, "Kate wasn't so attractive that she would alienate the female audience." He kept saying it everywhere we went, and we went to a lot of places.'

Pretty unbelievable, right?

Bay defended himself shortly afterwards on his website, saying: 'So I guess I was the 'bad guy' 16 years ago for suggesting a trainer because she just had her new beautiful baby girl - and she was about to enter into an intensive action movie. Note to reporters: 95% of leads in movies have trainers and drink green juice!'

Stellar apology.

She isn't the only woman talking about about sexism in Hollywood either. Recently, Jessica Chastain revealed that a director once told her she talks about 'too much women stuff', and Brie Larson lifted the lid on sexism in the fashion industry.