Kate Beckinsale says her 'very high IQ' is a 'handicap' in Hollywood: 'Not helpful in my career'

Kate Beckinsale is more than just a pretty face.

In a new interview this week on The Howard Stern Show, the actress revealed she has a "very high IQ". 

According to her Mensa tests results, Beckinsale scored 152 — the average person has an IQ between 85 and 115 — meaning she is in the top one per cent of the population.

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But the actress — who studied French and Russian literature at Oxford University before dropping out to pursue acting — says her intellect has been more of a "handicap" in Hollywood.

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"Every single doctor, every single person I've ever come across has said, 'You'd be so much happier if you were 30 per cent less smart,'" the 48-year-old told host Howard Stern. 

"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."

The Underworld star pointed out that her mother had her tested at a young age, so she may not score that same now as she likely "burned a few brain cells" over the years. 

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"I think she had me tested because very bright children are near unbearable," she laughed.

Stern concluded that dating would be hard for the actress, but Beckinsale said a sense of humour outweighs intelligence for her.

"I've always found I can forgive an awful lot if somebody's funny," she said. "So there's a certain degree of intelligence in somebody funny that I'm able to mess with."