 Actress Kate Beckinsale (qv) wanted to use movies like  _Aliens (1986)_ (qv) and _Terminator, The (1984)_ (qv) as the basis  for her role as an action heroine, but when they first talked about  the movie, director/husband Len Wiseman (qv) suggested that she  check out Russell Crowe (qv) in _L.A. Confidential (1997)_ (qv)  instead.