Big screen beauty KIM BASINGER has spent 30 years struggling to win dream film roles, because directors could never see beyond her sex symbol image.

The 8 MILE actress insists her stunning looks played havoc with her career, and she's delighted the plight of age has proved fruitful in her quest for good film parts.

Basinger, 50, says of her movie beauty stigma, 'It makes it twice as hard to prove yourself as an actress.'

In 1998, Basinger won a Best Supporting Actress OSCAR for her role in LA CONFIDENTIAL.