Kate Beckinsale SLAMS 'deliberately twisted' quotes of her 'bragging' about 152 IQ: 'If that triggers you... that's your problem'
Kate Beckinsale has responded to the media frenzy over her impressively high IQ of 152, which she admits has been a hindrance to her happiness, career and dating life.
The 48-year-old star, who studied Modern Languages at Oxford before pursuing her acting career, revealed to Howard Stern on Tuesday that her intelligence ranks among the 'genius' levels.
On Friday morning, she broke her silence over a handful of harsh articles nitpicking her interview with the controversial radio show host.
Speaking out: Kate Beckinsale has responded to the media frenzy over her impressively high IQ of 152, which she admits has been a hindrance to her happiness, career and dating life; pictured in 2020
'I was asked multiple times in a recent interview if knew my IQ,' the English actress began in a lengthy statement.
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She continued: 'I didn't answer the question the first few times, but I did tell the truth that my mum had had me tested when I was young, and that it was high. I didn't remember the number, and after being pressed several times to call my mother and ask her, I did.'
At this point, she found herself in a dilemma to 'tell the truth,' lie, 'refuse to answer the question,' or 'pretend it was lower.'
Smart: Oxford: The 48-year-old actress, who studied Modern Languages at Oxford before pursuing her acting career, revealed on Howard Stern that she had her IQ tested at an early age, and it was quite high
'I told the truth and some journalists have been triggered by this,' the mom-of-one went on. 'Are we really jumping on women for answering a question truthfully about their intelligence or education?'
Beckinsale asked: 'Are we really still requiring women to dumb themselves down in order not to offend?'
'I went to an all girls school where I never had to worry about raising my hand making me possibly unfeminine-and I went to a university in which intellectual debate was not only encouraged, but the entire point of attending,' she added.
Upset: On Friday morning, she broke her silence over a handful of harsh articles nitpicking her interview with the controversial radio show host
Honest: Beckinsale asked: 'Are we really still requiring women to dumb themselves down in order not to offend?'
The performer noted while she is aware of how lucky she for those opportunities, when she referred to her IQ as a 'handicap in Hollywood it's PRECISELY because being female AND having an opinion often has to be quite carefully packaged so as not to be offensive.'
Beckinsale also claimed her latest comments were 'deliberately twisted into signifying ones perceived superiority or arrogance.'
The performer noted while she is aware of how lucky she for those opportunities, when she referred to her IQ as a 'handicap in Hollywood it's PRECISELY because being female AND having an opinion often has to be quite carefully packaged so as not to be offensive'
Howard: Stern brought up that the actress speaks fluent Russian and studied at Oxford, and asked if she ever had an IQ test
'It's abundantly clear that this is still the case, and these journalists who spun this into me 'bragging' is a part of the exact reason I say it was and is a handicap,' she pointed out.
While saying she doesn't usually comment on 'bulls**t' it's important to her that no other women 'should feel they need to lie or dumb down under ANY circumstances so as not to be a target.'
'Facts: I’ve done some good movies and some s*** movies. I’ve made some good and bad choices in my personal life,' the Underworld star concluded. 'My IQ is 152 and if that triggers you ...that’s your problem.'
Burned: She added, though, 'they tested me when I was young, so I mean I'm sure I've burned a few brain cells by now'
Stern asked if she ever had an IQ test after mentioning to listeners that the beauty speaks fluent Russian and studied at Oxford.
'I did. I'll have to ask my mum. It was very high. I think she had me tested because very bright children are nearly unbearable,' Beckinsale said.
When Stern asked if she was in the 'genius' category, which MedicineNet states is over 140, Beckinsale said, 'I think it was quite high, yeah. I'll have to text her.'
152 IQ: When her mother wasn't answering her texts, Beckinsale gave her a call and asked if she remembered the number, and she revealed it was 152
She added, though, 'they tested me when I was young, so I mean I'm sure I've burned a few brain cells by now.'
When her mother wasn't answering her texts, Beckinsale gave her a call and asked if she remembered the number, and she revealed it was 152.
Though, when Stern said he wish he had a 152, Beckinsale said that probably isn't the case, because every extremely smart person she's met wished they weren't as smart.
Happier: 'Every single doctor, every single person I've ever come across has said, 'You'd be so much happier if you were 30 percent less smart,'' Beckinsale said
'Every single doctor, every single person I've ever come across has said, 'You'd be so much happier if you were 30 percent less smart,'' Beckinsale said.
'It's no good to me, though. It's really not helpful to me in my career. I just think it might have been a handicap actually,' Beckinsale added, though she wouldn't get into specifics.
Stern then asked how she must think all men are 'idiots' when she's dating, but she said, 'Don't you think most women say that?'
Idiots: Stern then asked how she must think all men are 'idiots' when she's dating, but she said, 'Don't you think most women say that?'
Funny: She said she has heard so many women ask, 'Why are men such idiots,' but as far as her dating life goes, she looks for humor
She said she has heard so many women ask, 'Why are men such idiots,' but as far as her dating life goes, she looks for humor.
'I've found I can forgive an awful lot if someone is funny. There's a certain intelligence in someone being funny that I'm able to mess with,' she said.
Beckinsale is coming off Amazon's Jolt and her new series Guilty Party debuted last week on the Paramount Plus streaming service.
'I've found I can forgive an awful lot if someone is funny. There's a certain intelligence in someone being funny that I'm able to mess with,' she said; pictured in August
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