By Daily Mail Reporter

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Kate Beckinsale has been smoking since she was 16.

And the Underworld actress shows no signs of giving up the habit, despite having quit for three years after falling pregnant with her daughter well over a decade ago.

The British actress, who turns 39 this month, was photographed today smoking in her car while on a shopping trip in Brentwood, Los Angeles.

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Hard to kick: Kate Beckinsale was seen in Brentwood yesterday smoking in her car

Hard to kick: Kate Beckinsale was seen in Brentwood yesterday smoking in her car

The Van Helsing star first walked to the car with her film director husband Len Wiseman.

The actress was dressed casually in a white singlet top and denim shorts, a grey cardigan draped over her shoulders.

She wore three-quarter-length buckled leather boots, dark sunglasses and her long hair piled on top of her head.

Retail therapy: Kate and her husband Len Wiseman had their arms full exiting the Brentwood Country Mart

Retail therapy: Kate and her husband Len Wiseman had their arms full exiting the Brentwood Country Mart

Both Kate and her husband carried arm fulls of shopping bags from the Brentwood Country Mart, including a large bag from upscale designer James Perse.

Beckinsale had an eight-year relationship with actor Michael Sheen from 1995 until 2003. Their daughter, Lily Mo Sheen, was born in London in 1999.

It was during this period that Kate has said she stopped smoking - for three years.

Her relationship with Lily's father ended in early 2003, after the filming of Underworld.

Great shape: Jessica recently wrapped filming on Total Recall, which is directed by her husband Len

Great shape: Jessica recently wrapped filming on Total Recall, which is directed by her husband Len

Beckinsale had persuaded director Len Wiseman to cast Sheen in the film but, while on set, she and Wiseman (who was married) fell in love.

Kate's actor father Richard Beckinsale died when she was five, and she attributes her early smoking addiction to the trauma.

'I did not have a good time in my teenage years,' she told The Sun in an interview last year.

'I loathed being a teenager. If something traumatic happens when you are very young, it takes a long time to get used to it.

'We all went off the rails, I think, at school, including having an anorexic crisis. I also started smoking at 16 — something I found very difficult to give up.'

Action heroine: The Underworld franchise helped launch the UK actress's career to new heights in Hollywood

Action heroine: The Underworld franchise helped launch the UK actress's career to new heights in Hollywood

In demand: The 38-year-old A-lister is repeatedly included in rankings of the world's sexiest women

Beckinsale, who has regularly been named one of the world's sexiest women in the likes of People magazine and Esquire, will next be seen in the much anticipated remake of Total Recall.

The action film, which also stars Jessica Biel, is being directed by none other than Len Wiseman, Kate's husband.

The film is a part reboot of the popular 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi action romp, and also stars Colin Farrell and Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston.

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

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Each to their own as long as it doesn't harm others but as soon as i see someone smoking i can almost smell how awful they smell.........and no amount of perfume or mouth spray hides it. Disgusting habit.

OMG - shock, horror - whatever next?

Silly woman smoking. It will catch up with her looks. Apparently she doesn't wear underpants either. If only she could act.

hope they make more bad movies together. underworld movies are all bad.

they talk about the gym and diets there doing and such likes, when really its all a con, she,s been smoking for at least 15 to 20 years,disgust me, young kids follow this trend,and its not right, yuk.

Smoking or not smoking....she is just soooooo sexy! Lucky fella!

I think Kate is stunning. Take note, Samantha Brick!

I don't get the boots with shorts look.

Why is she hiding her stomach with her cardigan? It will be reported that she's pregnant next!

The last I looked she was an adult and makes her own decisions so what if she is smoking?

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