Kate Beckinsale has joked she's found it "mortifying" being named the Sexiest Woman Alive in Esquire magazine's 2009 poll.

The stunning actress wowed photographers as she hit the red carpet at the AFI Festival in a strapless silver mini-dress for the premiere of her new movie Everybody's Fine

"Oh don't," she laughed when the subject was brought up at the glitzy premiere.

"It's such a nice thing to happen and then immediately it's mortifying."

Kate admitted she's struggling to adjust to the new title.

"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!" she joked.

Wed 4 Nov