British movie star Kate Beckinsale has been left with a huge scar after undergoing an emergency appendix operation.

Beckinsale's appendix burst earlier this year (04) and the Underworld actress underwent an urgent medical dash to get the "goo" out of her stomach.

The single mother says, "I was a little anxious. I do find I can cope with physical pain reasonably well. My appendix had exploded and turned into a horrid goo.

"It (the surgery) involved all kinds of difficult drainage. I have a huge scar. I had it done in England and they sort of get you with an axe, get it out, sow you up with some string."

But ever-practical Beckinsale learned how to detect appendix trouble during her surgery.

She explains, "If you push it and it hurts more when you let go, it's definitely your appendix."

07/05/2004 09:48