Kate Beckinsale sends naked pictures of her ex Michael Sheen to their daughter.

After chat show host Conan O'Brien said: "Apparently your daughter, as we know is now 17, likes to occasionally go on the internet and Google 'Michael Sheen naked,'" Kate explained that there is one particular picture that cracks them both up, an image of Michael in a bath.

She said: "My daughter and I are both from the school where we think a naked man is very funny in the right circumstances, not as a subtle surprise jumping out at you in a dark alley, but it's a funny thing.

"And sometimes in a low moment she'll text me that picture or I'll text it to her … If I sense that she's feeling low, I think, 'You know what, she could use Mike in the bath.' It works very well most times."

Kate and Michael have remained close despite their split and she has even become good friends with his current partner Sarah Silverman.

Michael, 47, recently said: "They get on so well. They are also both people who have a very particular sense of humour. Kate is very funny and very sharp. So, obviously, is Sarah. They really bonded with that."

Michael added that Kate is keen to have strong women, like Sarah, around their young daughter as she grows up.

He said: "Kate has said this, you want strong female role models around your daughter. Kate feels very much that Sarah is a good female role model for Lily."