Kate Beckinsale sent pornographic photos featuring her own face to her mother

She told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel: "I know Reddit is the one where sometimes you can find pictures of porn stars with your own face on it.

"I've been sent a few very distressing photos of myself--very busy, actually. Not just sort of in a wicker chair, naked--but involved. You know what I mean? With more than one person.

"So, when I got sent it, I just immediately sent it to my mother with no explanation to see what would happen.

"She's used to shocks, but, really offensively, I get a text back going, 'Oh, darling! Oh, dear! Oh, no! Oh, phew! You've got hardwood floors and that's a carpet.'

"It was, 'Oh, my God! What can I possibly cling onto that proves this isn't Kate?' Not my six African American boyfriends - all at once - but the fact that that's a carpet."

The 44-year-old actress also used her appearance on the show to embarrass both the host and her 18-year-old daughter Lily - who she has with former partner Michael Sheen - by revealing the teenager has a crush on Jimmy.

And Kate admitted the situation is all the more "twisted" because Jimmy used to date Michael's current partner Sarah Silverman.

She said: "You know how they have crushes on Justin Bieber and things like that? She's got one on you.

"It's a little bit of a tricky situation, because my daughter's dad is dating Jimmy's ex-girlfriend--it's very twisted. It's a sort of horrible, 'Human Centipede'-y vibe.

"Anyway, I think you should be pleased. She's very attractive... She's out of your league! I just want you to know that."

The 49-year-old presenter - who has two grown-up children with first wife Gina Maddy and daughter Jane, three, and son Billy, three months, with spouse Molly McNearney - admitted he was "flattered" by Lily's attention.

Speaking directly to the teenager - who was in the audience - he said: "I'm sorry! I had nothing to do with this! This is all her! This is your mother! Let's not ruin the crush thing. I want to keep that going, OK? Thank you very much. I appreciate it. I'm flattered. [Now] we're both embarrassed."