Kate Beckinsale Wearing "Black Bikini" And White Hat In Mexico

For most of us, it's flip flops, last year's saggy swimming costume and a plastic shopping bag as a carry-all at the beach. But for Hollywood star Kate Beckinsale, a day on the sand is a far more glamorous affair.

The stylish sun-worshipper donned a glamorous wide-brimmed hat and a gold trimmed bikini to spend the American Labour Day weekend at a beach in Mexico.

 

Hands on: Kate kneels down as she helps to build sandcastles on the beach (read more and see more pictures)

 Kate Beckinsale cut a stunning figure on the beach in Malibu

with husband Len Wiseman

The actress went for full glamour in a wide brimmed hat, over sized

sunglasses and Christian Louboutin wedges

But even most A-list millionaires would think twice before wearing a pair of coveted Christian Louboutin shoes on to the sand. The Underworld actress tottered about　 in a pair of the designer wedges, which cost approximately £350.

Kate was joined by her husband, director Len Wiseman, and her 11-year-old daughter Lily Sheen at the beach, where they built sand castles and lounged on deck chairs.

The 37-year-old British expatriate looked more like a Californian native with her knockout beach body.

Kate shielded her face from the strong sun's rays in

a hat and sunglasses

Hands on: Kate kneels down as she helps to build sandcastles on the beach

Displaying a flat stomach, toned thighs and pert bottom, it is little wonder Kate was voted third hottest mother in Hollywood in a recent AskMen.com poll, behind other 'Yummy Mummies' Halle Berry and Monica Belluci.

The family will be enjoying some time off before both Kate and Len return to work on the fourth instalment of their film franchise Underworld, set for release in January 2012.
The couple met on the set of the original film in 2003. Kate and Lily's father, British actor Michael Sheen, announced their split during the shoot and Kate and Len married in 2004.

Underworld Four will be filmed in 3D, a first for director Wiseman.

The actress later changed into a different bikini to play around

in the surf with her 11-year-old daughter Lily Sheen

Beckinsale will return as vampire Selene, but the role will reportedly be much smaller in this instalment, with Selene 'passing the torch' to her two daughters in the film.
Kate's decreased role appears to be a compromise after her rumoured uncertainty over whether to return to the franchise.
The film's screenwriter John Hlavin has said: 'It will satisfy old fans and excite new audiences, meaning that we don't want to redo the first three movies.'

Careful! Kate steps down onto the beach from a high step, and seems to be struggling in her super-high shoes

'So steps are being taken to honour what fans have loved but at the same time introduce fresh elements.'
Kate has also signed up to star as the lead in The Trials of Cate McCullough, alongside fellow Brit Sienna Miller.
The film is about a 'former hotshot lawyer who, in order to be reinstated at the bar and recover custody of her daughter, must take on the appeal of a woman wrongfully convicted of murder.'

Husband Len Wiseman tries to grab a kiss from Kate,

but struggles to find her under the hat