Kate rocks on

Born into showbiz royalty, as the daughter of Goldie Hawn and step-daughter of Kurt Russell, her life might be based in Hollywood, where a glossy megawatt veneer is the order of the day, but she insists her own outlook is firmly rooted in reality.

"Some days I feel quietly confident, and other days I don't," explains the 36-year-old.

"Certain days I feel like, 'Wow I've come so far', and I feel really open. And other days I feel like, 'Should I have done that? Should I do this? I don't know...'.

"It's life, isn't it?" she reasons. "We're always trying to figure it out."

Clearly it's a subject Hudson, whose biological father is the musician Bill Hudson, has been thinking about a lot recently.

Growing up in Los Angeles, she forged ahead with her career in the late Nineties after deferring her place at New York University, scoring roles in 1998 indie film Desert Blue and 200 Cigarettes soon after.

Her early success led to accusations of nepotism (something she apologised for at the time), but any naysayers were swiftly silenced when she earned an Academy Award nomination for her role as 'band aid' Penny Lane in Cameron Crowe's 2001 film Almost Famous.

More recently she voiced charismatic giant panda Mei Mei in animated adventure Kung Fu Panda 3, which sees the hero of the story, Po (Jack Black), overcome his fears and start to believe in his abilities.

It's a story that appealed to Hudson, who has a neat line in sunny romcoms, with starring roles in 2003's How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days alongside Matthew McConaughey, You, Me And Dupree and Bride Wars.

"It's important to see what your strengths are, be OK with those moments of insecurity and really discover what it is about you that sets you apart from everybody else," says the star, who looks chic today in a pair of pastel blue flares and light brown turtleneck top.

It's a theme she explores in her debut wellbeing book, Pretty Happy: Healthy Ways To Love Your Body, which is loaded with positive affirmations.

Hudson, with her golden glow, stylish new shoulder-skimming hair do ("The beauty of being an actor is that I can change my look any time. I might get some extensions and keep everyone guessing," she says with a smile), and an obligatory cup of green tea by her side, is exactly what you'd expect from a positive living convert.

"I'm super passionate about being active and having a healthy lifestyle," confirms the mum-of-two (Hudson has two boys: Ryder, 12, with former husband Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson, and four-year-old Bingham with Muse singer Matt Bellamy, who she was with from 2010-2014).

"The book's about confidence in women, especially empowerment, throwing the sort of idealist idea of beauty out of the window and really looking at the reality of how we live and construct our own lives."

A savvy businesswoman, she also launched a fitness clothing range, Fabletics, a few years ago, b ut it's only been through book signings that she's met some of her devotees.

"Writing the book has been one of my favourite things," she explains. "I've met some really wonderful people who are doing really cool things.

"There are a lot of people out there who want to be motivated. We all need encouragement and to support each other, so it's been great."

Great, too, is being able to impress her two sons with her role in Kung Fu Panda 3.

"I get to be in a movie that my kids can see and are excited to talk about. It's fun!" She admits with a laugh.

Hudson's new film, Rock The Kasbah, however, isn't one her sons will be sitting down to watch any time soon.

Starring Bill Murray, Bruce Willis and Zooey Deschanel, it follows Richie Lanz (Murray), a down on his luck rock manager who takes his last remaining client on a tour of Afghanistan.

After finding himself abandoned in Kabul, penniless and without his passport, he discovers Salima, a young village girl with an extraordinary voice, and manages her through Afghanistan's version of American Idol, the wildly popular Afghan Star.

Hudson plays Merci, a woman seeking a way out of prostitution, who becomes Richie's guide and muse in Kabul.

"I think what Merci really sees when she first hears Salima's voice is just dollar signs," says the actress. "As the story progresses, she really gets invested in this young girl's plight to do what she really loves, going against all of the odds and following her passion and her dream. I think Merci really gets inspired by it."

Murray was somewhat of an inspiration for Hudson, who says working with him was like witnessing a "masterclass in comedy".

"The thing about Bill is that he never really misses," she adds. "He tries one thing and it's funny. He tries another thing and it's funny."

Happy to be in a position where she can work with Murray one month and wow her sons the next, she's clearly no slouch when it comes to living her own message.

"I'm passionate about life," Hudson admits. "I'm just so happy to be here."

:: King Fu Panda 3 is in cinemas now

:: Rock The Kasbah is released on Friday, March 18