Dublin - With her movie-star looks, red carpet lifestyle and celebrity husband, Kate Beckinsale is easily one of the coolest women on the planet.
To her 13-year-old daughter Lily, however, the actress is just a complete embarrassment.
Underworld star Kate, 38, has revealed how her daughter by former boyfriend Michael Sheen wouldn’t be seen dead with her famous mother.
“She’s become a teenager, so all of a sudden I became a whole lot more embarrassing than I’d ever been in the past,” says Kate, who’s married to director Len Wiseman.
“I do have a tendency to be that sort of awful mother who thinks she’s really hip, so right now I have to give her space.”
At least it gives her something to chuckle about with fellow yummy mommy Kate Winslet the next time they bump into each other on the red carpet.
Not even scooping an Oscar in an Yves St Laurent frock in 2008 could stop the mother-of two-from shaming her daughter Mia, 11.
“(Afterwards, Mia said) ‘I need to talk to you about the dress – it was grey’,” says 36-year-old Winslet, who won Best Actress for her role in The Reader. “She was absolutely mortified I wore a grey dress.”
But the two Kates are not alone – 89 percent of teenagers admitted to regularly being left red-faced by their moms in a recent survey, with dodgy jokes and public affection among the top offences.
Never mind the “terrible twos”, now it’s the “terrible teens” testing parents.
“Parents often ring me when their kids get to this age,” says family counsellor Beth Fitzpatrick. “Having been really close for the first 12 years, they panic when their child suddenly wants nothing to do with them.
“But it’s perfectly normal for teenagers to be embarrassed by their parents.
“Think of it like this,” she explains. “Up until the magic age of 13, a child’s world revolves around their parents, teacher and school pals.
“Once they start going through puberty, though, their friends become the most important thing.
Grandmother of 10 Beth recalls: “My own youngest son used to love me walking him to school. Then, at 11, one day he just turned around and said: ‘Would you mind walking behind me?’ “
Just like Demi Moore and daughters Rumer, 23, Scout, 20, and Tallulah Willis, 18, though, it is possible to survive teendom together.
“The key thing is to give your teen a bit more space,” advises therapist Beth. “If you continue to treat them like a five-year-old, your relationship is going to suffer big-time.
“It’s all about knowing when to let go – and more importantly, knowing when to be there.”
Embarrassing celeb moms
Courteney Cox and daughter Coco
She’s barely eight years old, but celebri-tot Coco has already been left red-faced by her famous mom. The former Friends star, 47, explains: “I mentioned that Coco loves Barbies (in an interview) and she got really upset… and embarrassed. All of a sudden Barbies were not cool.”
Georgia Jagger and mother Jerry Hall
As an embarrassed teen, model Georgia, 20, tells how she reversed the roles by banning her mother from wearing miniskirts: “I told her one night that her skirt was too short. She came down the stairs and I was like, ‘God, mum, you are 50’.”
Diane Keaton and kids Dexter and Duke
She may be an Oscar winner, but single mother Diane mortifies her daughter Dexter, 16, and son Duke, 11. “I like to take them to school in my bare feet,” reveals the 66-year-old actress, leading them to beg, “Can’t you be normal, lady?” – Irish Independent