Cate Blanchett, in full Catherine Elise Blanchett is an Australian actress known for her multidimensional characters and wide range of roles.
Background
Ethnicity:
Blanchett's ancestry includes English, some Scottish, and remote French roots.
Blanchett was born on 14 May 1969, in the Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe. She is the middle of three children; her older brother is a computer systems engineer, and her younger sister is a theatrical designer. Her Australian mother, June (born Gamble), worked as a property developer and teacher, and her American father, Robert DeWitt Blanchett, Jr., a Texas native, was a United States Navy petty officer who later worked as an advertising executive. The two met when Blanchett's father's ship broke down in Melbourne. When Blanchett was 10, her father died of a heart attack, leaving her mother to raise the family on her own.
Blanchett has described herself as being "part extrovert, part wallflower" during childhood. She had a penchant for dressing in traditionally masculine clothing, and went through goth and punk phases during her teenage years, and shaved her head at one point.
Education
Cate attended primary school in Melbourne at Ivanhoe East Primary School; for her secondary education, she attended Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School and then Methodist Ladies' College, where she explored her passion for the performing arts. In her late teens and early twenties, she worked at a nursing home in Victoria.
Cate studied economics and fine arts at the University of Melbourne but dropped out after one year to travel overseas. While in Egypt, Blanchett was asked to play an American cheerleader, as an extra in the Egyptian boxing movie, Kaboria; in need of money, she accepted. Upon her return to Australia, she moved to Sydney and enrolled in the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) to pursue an acting career. She graduated from NIDA in 1992 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Cate has been presented with a Doctor of Letters from University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, and Macquarie University in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to the arts, philanthropy and the community.
Cate's professional acting career began on the Australian stage. She performed with the Sydney Theatre Company in Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls and Timothy Daly’s Kafka Dances. In 1993 she starred opposite Geoffrey Rush in David Mamet’s Oleanna, as a student who accuses her teacher of sexual harassment.
Blanchett made her television debut in 1993, and she soon landed leading roles in the miniseries Heartland (1994) and Bordertown (1995). She moved to feature films with Paradise Road (1997), a historical drama about a Japanese war camp in World War II. Blanchett’s reputation grew with her next two feature films: the bittersweet romantic comedy Thank God He Met Lizzie (1997; later released as The Wedding Party) and Oscar and Lucinda (1997), in which she played a rebellious heiress ostracized from Australian society. Her breakthrough role was as young Queen Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Elizabeth, which earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award for best actress. Blanchett was praised for capturing the emotional complexity of the queen’s development from a lovestruck adolescent to an indomitable political force who represses her emotional vulnerability.
Blanchett subsequently appeared in films that covered numerous genres and character types, securing her reputation as a versatile actress. She took supporting parts in Pushing Tin (1999), a comedy about air traffic controllers, and in the dramatic thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). As the lead character in The Gift (2000), she played a psychic whose visions involve her in the investigation of a local woman’s murder. In 2001 she portrayed a kidnapped housewife who falls in love with her captors in Bandits. She next appeared as the elf queen Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001, 2002, and 2003), the film adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy.
In the western The Missing (2003), Blanchett brought her trademark complexity to the role of a young woman forced to confront her estranged father (played by Tommy Lee Jones) in order to reclaim her kidnapped daughter. She earned further critical acclaim for her performance as an Irish journalist who runs afoul of the mob in Veronica Guerin (2003). In 2004 she starred in Wes Anderson’s offbeat comedy The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, playing a pregnant reporter in a bizarre love triangle with the ship’s captain (played by Bill Murray) and someone who may be his son (played by Owen Wilson).
Returning to her study of historical characters, Blanchett portrayed Hollywood star Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator (2004), Martin Scorsese’s biopic of the eccentric millionaire Howard Hughes, and won an Academy Award for the role. She later appeared in the dramas Babel (2006), The Good German (2006), and Notes on a Scandal (2006). In the unconventional biopic I’m Not There (2007), she starred as one of several characters based on the musician Bob Dylan at different stages in his life. As the character Jude, a star making the dramatic shift from acoustic folk to electric rock, Blanchett was praised for capturing the elusive and bewildering qualities attributed to Dylan. Her performance earned her another Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actress.
In 2007 Blanchett reprised her role as the English queen in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, which explores Elizabeth’s political battles with Spain and her personal relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh; she earned another Oscar nomination for her performance. The following year she played the Soviet villain Irina Spalko in Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), another addition to the series of action-adventure films following the dashing archaeologist. In 2008 she also starred opposite Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a drama about a man who ages backward. Two years later she appeared as Marion Loxley in Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood. The action drama starred Russell Crowe in the title role as the outlaw hero.
In addition to her film work, Blanchett remained active in the theatre. In 2008 she and her husband, writer Andrew Upton, became artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company. Blanchett left the position in 2013, though Upton remained. Her performances with the company included Hedda Gabler (2004) and The War of the Roses (2009). In 2017 she made her Broadway debut in The Present, which was based on a play by Anton Chekhov. For her performance, Blanchett received a Tony Award nomination.
In the thriller Hanna (2011), Blanchett portrayed a CIA agent in pursuit of a former agent and his teenage daughter, whom he has trained to be an assassin. Blanchett again assumed the role of Galadriel in the Hobbit trilogy—An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Battle of the Five Armies (2014), all based on the Tolkien novel that preceded The Lord of the Rings. Her performance in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine (2013), as a socialite struggling to cope with a decline in circumstances, won her further acclaim, including an Oscar for best actress. She played a French art historian and Resistance member in The Monuments Men (2014), which fictionalized Allied efforts to recover art stolen by the Nazis during World War II.
Blanchett then sank her teeth into the role of the wicked stepmother of the title character in Cinderella (2015). In Truth (2015) she played CBS producer Mary Mapes, who was fired after the accuracy of a segment by reporter Dan Rather on U.S. Pres. George W. Bush’s military service was called into question. Carol, a drama in which she played a married socialite who enters a romantic relationship with a younger store clerk (Rooney Mara), earned her a seventh Oscar nomination. She then joined the ensemble of Knight of Cups (2015), Terrence Malick’s experimental meditation on Hollywood, and later appeared in his film Song to Song (2017), a romantic drama set against the Austin, Texas, music scene. Also in 2017 Blanchett earned critical praise for her vivacious portrayal of Hela, the goddess of death, in Thor: Ragnarok. The next year she starred in Ocean’s 8, the female-driven reboot of the Ocean’s Eleven franchise from the early 2000s.
Cate Blanchett received international acclaim and many accolades for her work, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, three BAFTA Awards, six AACTA Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Blanchett came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in Elizabeth (1998), for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress, the Golden Globe Award, and earned her first Academy Award for Best Actress nomination. Her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator (2004) brought her critical acclaim and many accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, making her the only actor to win an Oscar for portraying another Oscar-winning actor. In 2013, she starred in Blue Jasmine, for which she won many accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Blanchett is one of only six actors, and the only female actor, to receive Academy Award nominations for portraying the same role in two films, accomplished with her performance as Queen Elizabeth I. She is additionally the only Australian to win two acting Oscars. A seven-time Oscar nominee, she has also received nominations for Notes on a Scandal (2006), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), I'm Not There (2007), and Carol (2015). Her other notable films include The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003) and The Hobbit trilogy (2012–2014), Babel (2006), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Cinderella (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and Ocean's 8 (2018).
Blanchett has also had an extensive career on stage; she is a four-time Helpmann Award winner for Best Female Actor in a Play. Blanchett made her Broadway debut in 2017 with The Present, and received Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Drama League Award nominations for her performance in the play.
Blanchett has been awarded the Centenary Medal for Service to Australian Society by the Australian government. She was appointed Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2012. In 2017, Blanchett was made a Companion in the Order of Australia for "eminent service to the performing arts as an international stage and screen actor, through seminal contributions as director of artistic organisations, as a role model for women and young performers, and as a supporter of humanitarian and environmental causes."
Blanchett has spoken about feminism and politics, telling Sky News in 2013 that she was concerned that "a wave of conservatism sweeping the globe" was threatening women's role in society.
The biggest controversy of her political career came when she endorsed a Carbon Tax in Australia. The tax would charge polluting industries per ton of carbon they release into the atmosphere. Blanchett was criticized by Australian conservatives and some media for being a wealthy woman who would likely not feel the effects of additional taxes. She said: "I’m not really surprised by the reactions from people on the other side of the debate. People are entitled to their opinion… Everyone will benefit if we protect the environment. There is a societal cost of increased pollution and that’s what I’m passionate about as a mother. That’s where it gets me in the gut."
Views
Blanchett seems fixated on one single issue–environmentalism. Her passion for this topic has inspired her to speak out about various problems, and their solutions. She has outfitted her Australian mansion with solar power and other eco-friendly innovations, and she has become an ambassador for the Australian Conservation Foundation, hoping to encourage Australians to collectively act on environmental concerns.
She’s also represented SolarAid, an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping countries around the world develop their green economies.
Quotations:
"If you know you are going to fail, then fail gloriously."
"You know you've made it when you've been moulded in miniature plastic. But you know what children do with Barbie dolls - it's a bit scary, actually."
"It's important to travel and move and have a continual set of experiences so you've got more to feed back into your work. For me, it's a natural thing."
Membership
In 2015, she was honoured by the Museum of Modern Art and received the British Film Institute Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the industry.
She was made an honorary life member of the Australian Conservation Foundation in 2012, in recognition of her support for environmental issues.
Australian Conservation Foundation
2012
Personality
Cate Blanchett smokes.
Her favorite perfume is Burberry Brit.
Favorite designers - Phoebe Philo, Givenchy, Giorgio Armani, Alexander McQueen.
Cate's favorite food is cheese and vegemite on toast.
Physical Characteristics:
Her height is 5 ft 8½ in (174 cm), weight - 59 kg (130 pounds), hair color - blonde, eye color - blue. Cate's distinctive features are her highly defined cheekbones. Her m easurements are 34-24-35 in (86-61-89 cm), dress size - 2 (US) or 34 (EU) or 6 (US), bra size - 32B, shoe size - 9 (US) or 39.5 (EU).
Quotes from others about the person
"She has this incredible ability to transform herself. Sometimes you're not sure it's her on screen. It's always fascinating; this capacity of being a totally different person, and yet being yourself. She's very inventive; working with her, I can tell right away she's very free." - Isabelle Huppert
"I remember going to the Sunset 5 and just thinking, ‘Who is that My goodness'. You just don’t see people who have that kind of power and ability every day of the week." - David Fincher
"She elevated most of our performances. She’s exquisite. She’s a great friend. She can read a scene like few actors can. I find her to be grace incarnate. I liked that she was playing a dancer. It fit her because of who she is, because of her undeniable elegance." - Brad Pitt
"That Blanchett could appear in the same Toronto Film Festival playing Elizabeth and Bob Dylan, both splendidly, is a wonder of acting." - Roger Ebert
"Years from now, when cinephiles are asked to name the movies' golden age, they'll say it was when Cate Blanchett was in them." - Richard Corliss
"She has the most extraordinary access to her emotions that I’ve come across in an actor." - Theatre director Benedict Andrews
Interests
Her favorite movies are Ordinary People, Mon Oncle, Huckleberry Finn, The Scarlet Claw, Coal Miner’s Daughter.
Writers
Favorite novelist - Peter Carey. Favorite books - Voss, Oleanna, The Uses of Enchantment, The True History of the Kelly Gang, Tender is the Night, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.
Artists
Favorite paintings by Mavis Ngallametta.
Favourite actress - Mia Wasikowska
Sport & Clubs
Yoga
Music & Bands
Favorite song - "Proof" by I Am Kloot.
Connections
Blanchett is married to playwright and screenwriter Andrew Upton. They met in 1996 on the set of a TV show and were married on 29 December 1997. Blanchett and Upton have three sons and one adopted daughter. Blanchett said that she and her husband had been wanting to adopt ever since the birth of their first child. After making Brighton, England their main family home for nearly 10 years, she and her husband returned to their native Australia in 2006. In November 2006, Blanchett attributed this move to desires to select a permanent home for her children, to be closer to her family, and to have a sense of belonging to the Australian theatrical community. She and her family lived in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill. Their Hunters Hill residence underwent extensive renovations in 2007 to be made more eco-friendly. Following the sale of their property there in late 2015, Blanchett and Upton purchased a house in East Sussex, England in early 2016.
Father:
Robert DeWitt Blanchett Jr.
(November 19, 1938 - January 9, 1980)
Robert is a native of Texas in America who worked as a United States Navy petty officer. Robert met June (nee Gamble) in Melbourne when his USS Arneb ship broke down several years ago. He put himself though night school after his returned to the States.
He died from cardiac arrest at 42 when the acclaimed Aussie actress Cate was only 10 years old. Robert Blanchett is the author behind Big Taxi and Younger Than You.
Mother:
June Blanchett
June worked as a real estate developer and teacher. She practically raised her kids on her own as her husband died early at the age of 40. Since 1979 after Robert’s death, June never remarried instead she moved in to Cate`s house to help her in raising kids.
Spouse:
Andrew Upton
(b. 1 February 1966)
He is an Australian playwright, screenwriter, and director. He is the husband of the two-time Academy Award winner actress Cate Blanchett.
Brother:
Robert Blanchett Jr
(b. 1968)
The first Blanchett child is an information systems engineer. Rob was at the cinemas with his two sisters when they were called out to the sad news of their dad’s sudden death. He graduated from the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Aside this, there is nothing else known about him.
Sister:
Genevieve Amelia Blanchett
(b. 1971)
She is a 2008 graduate of Architectural Design and is the production designer behind the short film Bangers (1999) which starred her sister Cate. Genevieve works for the NZ Opera at the Aotea Centre in Auckland. She admires artist Louise Bourgeois for her talent and artistic creativity. The youngest Blanchett is also a yoga practitioner.
Son:
Dashiell John Upton
(b. December 3, 2001)
2001 was a busy year for Cate Blanchett as she had major roles in three big movies including the Lord of the Rings trilogy. You can imagine how easy it would have been for her with being pregnant almost throughout the year. To crown her hard work, Dashiell was born that same year – the first child to the Aussie power couple.
Son:
Roman Robert Upton
(b. April 23, 2004)
He was born in London and is growing to be one very cute little Upton.
Son:
Ignatius Martin Upton
(b. April 13, 2008)
adopted daughter:
Edith Vivian Patricia Upton
On March 6, 2015, Edith’s adoption was publicly confirmed in Cate’s father’s American homeland. Blanchett states that she and Upton had plans to adopt a child even before Dashiell was born. We guess there was a long waiting list until they were finally called in 2015. The Uptons are very excited with the latest female addition to their family and they love her as equally as possible.
1997, Thank God He Met Lizzie - Best Supporting Actress
2005, Little Fish - Best Actress - Best Actress
2005 - News Limited Readers' Choice Award
2007, Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Best Actress — International
2013, Blue Jasmine - Best Actress – International
2015, Carol - Best Actress – International
2015, Lifetime Achievement Award - Longford Lyell Award
1997, Thank God He Met Lizzie - Best Supporting Actress
2005, Little Fish - Best Actress - Best Actress
2005 - News Limited Readers' Choice Award
2007, Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Best Actress — International
2013, Blue Jasmine - Best Actress – International
2015, Carol - Best Actress – International
2015, Lifetime Achievement Award - Longford Lyell Award
1998, Elizabeth - Best Actress in a Leading Role
2004, The Aviator - Best Actress in a Supporting Role
2013, Blue Jasmine - Best Actress in a Leading Role
1998, Elizabeth - Best Actress in a Leading Role
2004, The Aviator - Best Actress in a Supporting Role
2013, Blue Jasmine - Best Actress in a Leading Role
1998, Elizabeth - Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
2007, I'm Not There - Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
2013, Blue Jasmine - Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
1998, Elizabeth - Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
2007, I'm Not There - Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
2013, Blue Jasmine - Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2004, The Aviator - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
2013, Blue Jasmine - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
2003, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2004, The Aviator - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
2013, Blue Jasmine - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role