Most Hollywood actresses would kill for the 'Sexiest Woman Alive' title but actress Kate Beckinsale is mortified by it and detests admitting the fact that she's the owner of the title.

The 'Underworld' star was handed the honour by Esquire magazine earlier this year, knocking beautiful Halle Berry off the number one spot.

But Beckinsale insists she has struggled to cope with the alluring name and finds it hard when people quiz her over her new sexy status, reported Contactmusic.

"It's such a nice thing to happen and then immediately it's mortifying. Somebody came up to me in the street and went 'Are you the sexiest woman alive?' And I went 'yes,' and then I thought, 'Errrggh I can't say yes to that!' ,I should be shot on sight for that, it's awful!," Beckinsale said.

The 36-year-old British beauty was also roped in by the publication to create a video where she was seen walking about an apartment wearing nothing but black lingerie.