Meet the Nurses of Pearl Harbor: Jaime King, Kate Beckinsale, and Cast Insights

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In January 2016, Pearl Harbor actress Jaime King was a standout style star at the Who What Wear x Target launch party at the ArtBeam Gallery in New York.

Fifteen years earlier, she starred as a seventeen-year-old Tripler Army Hospital nurse in the 2001 American romantic war drama film Pearl Harbor. The other nurses were Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Garner, Catherine Kellner, and Sara Rue.

Jaime King plays with her hair and poses for photos at the Who What Wear for Target launch partyJaime King plays with her hair and poses for photos at the Who What Wear for Target launch party held on January 27, 2016, at the ArtBeam Gallery in New York City (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN)

Pearl Harbor: Behind the Scenes and Cast Insights

Making her first appearance in a large Hollywood production as nurse Betty Bayer, Jaime King was 22 years old when the film was released on May 21, 2001.

She was born on April 23, 1979, in Omaha, Nebraska, and celebrated her 22nd birthday on April 23, 2001.

Kate Beckinsale turned 28 on July 26, 2001. Jennifer Garner celebrated her 29th birthday on April 17, 2001. Catherine Kellner turned 31 on October 2, 2001. The youngest of the nurses, Sara Rue, celebrated her 22nd birthday on January 26, 2001.

Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Garner, Catherine Kellner, Jaime King, and Sara Rue as nurses in Pearl HarborKate Beckinsale, Jennifer Garner, Catherine Kellner, Jaime King, and Sara Rue as nurses in Pearl Harbor (2001)

Having lied about her age to become a nurse and officer in the Navy, Jaime King’s character Betty Bayer is killed when her hospital is bombed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. She is pronounced dead by her colleague, Lieutenant Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale).

“You look at James’ beauty pictures, and she’s very serious, debonair and exotic,” director Michael Benjamin Bay said about Pearl Harbor’s” wide-eyed nurse, Betty.

“You meet her, and she’s got these [imperfect] teeth that work to her advantage. She’s a beautiful girl with a goofy edge. And she’s got a lot of range. The camera gravitates to her,” he added about Jaime King in an interview with the New York Daily News.

Jaime King's character is killed in an explosion during the bombing of Pearl HarborJaime King’s character is killed in an explosion during the bombing of Pearl Harbor

The filmmakers consulted with real-life nurses who served during World War II to ensure the portrayal of their experiences was accurate. Two nurse consultants, twin sisters Sara and Helen Entrikin, were stationed at Pearl Harbor during the attack.

Jaime King: From Movie Sets to Fashion Statements

The “Hart of Dixie” star, who gave birth to her second son Leo Thames Newman about six months earlier, returned to show off her model figure.

Jaime King poses on the black-and-white carpet in a Steven Kahlil feather skirt and a silk white topJaime King poses on the black-and-white carpet in a Steven Kahlil feather skirt and a white silk top (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN)

Elegant Attire: Jaime King’s Event Look Detailed

The then 36-year-old donned an ankle-length Steven Kahlil feather skirt over a silk white top paired with black Jimmy Choo “Agnes” pumps in satin.

Jaime King paired an ankle-length Steven Kahlil feather skirt with a silk white topJaime King paired an ankle-length Steven Kahlil feather skirt with a silk white top (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN)

She accessorized with a black clutch and Fallon Jewelry chokers.

Jaime King's black clutch and Fallon Jewelry chokersJaime King’s black clutch and Fallon Jewelry chokers (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN)

Supporting Friends and Fashion Collaborations

Jaime attended the event to support the brand’s co-creators, Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power. She also took to Instagram to promote the collaboration between Who What Wear and Target.

Jaime King shows off her feet in Jimmy Choo pumpsJaime King shows off her feet in Jimmy Choo pumps (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / WENN)

Shop the Look: Jaime King’s Jimmy Choo Pumps

Grab Jaime’s glossy patent leather ‘Agnes’ pumps at Farfetch and Mytheresa:

Black Jimmy Choo "Agnes" PumpsBlack Jimmy Choo “Agnes” Pumps, $595