The talented and versatile actress Cate Blanchett turned 52 on last 14 May and me as a declared fan pay this tribute to this great actress who in such a short time established her acting career and her artistic potential internationally and became one of the greatest Hollywood stars of this century – she is sometimes compared to the phenomenal Meryl Streep, for her ability to be multifaceted in her performances, in addition to her beauty and charisma that jump out to the cinema and TV screens when we are watching her.
Cate Blanchett resume
The Australian actress, director and producer is regarded as one of the greatest actresses of her generation. She is noted for her versatile roles in blockbusters, independent films, and in her stage work in various theatre productions. After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art, Blanchett began her acting career on the Australian stage, taking on roles in “Electra” in 1992. She came to international attention for portraying Elizabeth I in the drama film “Elizabeth” (1998), for which she won the Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for Best Actress, and received her first of seven Academy Award nominations.
Her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese‘s “The Aviator” (2004) won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and she later won the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing a neurotic former socialite in Woody Allen‘s comedy-drama “Blue Jasmine” (2013).
She stared in films include “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy (2001–2003) and “The Hobbit” trilogy (2012–2014), “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008) and “Ocean’s 8 “(2018). She also produced the acclaimed series “Stateless” that explores immigration and refugees themes.
Check out 10 Unforgettable Cate Blanchett performances:
10. Meredith Logue, “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999)
The fact that Meredith Logue’s role in ‘Talented Ripley’ is a supporting role, Blanchett proved she is a talented actress and could shine among a stellar cast. In Anthony Minghella’s adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith novel, Blanchett plays an American socialite whom Ripley (Matt Damon) fools into believing that he is a wealthy heir Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), whom Ripley has just murdered.
Blanchett offers an air of regal sophistication to Meredith, who begins falling for Ripley and is shocked when Ripley, afraid that he’s about to be unmasked, breaks up with her.
9. Queen Elizabeth I, “Elizabeth” (1998)
When we think of historical figures, it is almost automatic to think of the extensive, controversial and exuberant British royal family. Over the years, countless faces have portrayed English kings and queens – but Blanchett’s performance in ‘Elizabeth’ (and in the sequel ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’) is one of the best and most memorable, mainly for showing to the cinema public Queen Elizabeth Kingdom, her strength, deep and passionate personality.
Elizabeth” garnered Blanchett her first Golden Globe Award, as well as her first nominations for the Oscar and the SAG Award. And for “The Golden Age,” she earned her fourth Oscar nod, her sixth Golden Globe nomination and her 10th SAG nod as well.
8. Sheba Hart,”Notes on a scandal” (2006)
Blanchett plays a school teacher who has an illicit affair with a student and, consequently, is blackmailed by her obsessed neighbour. Floating between compassion and hatred about the character, the actress perfectly embodies each outline of this complex character – and enchants us from beginning to end. It is no surprise that she was nominated for an Oscar again.
7. Susan Jones, “Babel” (2006)
In director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s multi-storied panorama, Blanchett portrays Susan Jones, an American tourist travelling with her husband Richard (Brad Pitt), to Morocco to heal their marriage, which has been shaken by the death of their infant to SIDS. While on a tour bus, Susan is inadvertently shot by a pair of young boys, and as she clings to life, Richard sets out on a time-sensitive quest to get her the medical care that she needs. For her performance in “Babel,” Blanchett received her ninth Screen Actors Guild nomination.
6. Lady Galadriel, “The Lord of the Rings” sequel (2001- 2003)
J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, hit the nation’s screens first, and audiences got their first taste of Blanchett’s take on Galadriel, the kind but powerful co-ruler of Lothlórien. Though her performance continued to be a standout in the trilogy’s second film, “The Two Towers” (2002) and the third, “The Return of the King” (for which Blanchett won her first SAG Award as part of that film’s ensemble cast), it was arguably in the series’ first instalment, “The Fellowship of the Ring,” where Blanchett made her freshest and most lasting impression as the benevolent elf queen Galadriel.
5. Jude Quinn, “I am not there” (2007)
Todd Haynes’ “I’m Not There” provided Blanchett with a unique acting opportunity as one of six actors (and the only woman) to offer their take on the essence of Bob Dylan. Blanchett’s section sets up Dylan as a character called Jude Quinn and covers the period when Dylan goes electric at the Newport Jazz Festival and is booed when he follows the same path on a tour of the UK. There’s no attempt at androgyny here — it’s just Blanchett channelling Dylan. For her fascinating turn as “Jude” (the best performance in the movie), Blanchett was honoured with her second Golden Globe Award, her fifth Oscar nod, and her 11th Screen Actors Guild nomination.
4. Katharine Hepburn, “The aviator” (2004)
Blanchett won her first Academy Award for her performance as screen legend Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese’s look at the iconic Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio). What was wonderful about Blanchett’s interpretation was that it was not an impersonation as so many imitators have done, but instead, she seemed to embody the screen star, not just in her voice but in her physicality as well, walking confidently in slacks in a way that few of her contemporaries ever attempted.
Blanchett also won her second Screen Actors Guild Award and was nominated for her fourth Golden Globe Award.
3. Daisy Fuller, “The curious case of Benjamin Button” (2008)
“Benjamin Button” provided Blanchett with another unique acting challenge in the role of Daisy Fuller, a dancer whose life romantically intertwines with Benjamin (Brad Pitt). The major problem with their bond is that, while Daisy is growing older chronologically, Benjamin is at the same time growing younger.
Under David Fincher’s direction, Blanchett could capture the confusion of a woman who is in love with a man but unable to make peace with the fact that as the years are going by, she is getting older in comparison to him. Blanchett won her 12th Screen Actors Guild nomination.
2. Carol Aird, “Carol” (2015)
Blanchett reunited again with “I’m Not There” director Todd Haynes for “Carol,” in one of her most acclaimed performances as Carol Aird, a wealthy New Jersey housewife who accidentally leaves her gloves at a New York store. A clerk, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), returns the gloves, and in gratitude, Carol, who is undergoing a painful divorce, invites Therese out for lunch. Both women have an immediate attraction for one another, and they begin a relationship that ends unhappily.
For her performances as Carol, Blanchett won her seventh Academy Award nomination, her ninth Golden Globe nod, and her 14th Screen Actors Guild nomination.
1. Jeanette Francis, “Blue Jasmine”(2013)
Nine years after winning her first Oscar statuette, Blanchett would reach the top of the world again with ‘Blue Jasmine. The film directed by Woody Allen is based loosely on the Tennessee Williams play and revolves around Jeanette “Jasmine” Francis, a woman who was living on top of the world with her Bernie Madoff-type husband Hal (Alec Baldwin) when he is busted by the Feds and the government takes all of the couple’s money.
She flies to San Francisco (in first class, of course) to live with her not-so-well-off sister Ginger (Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins), but those close to Ginger begin to question Jasmine’s motivations.
She is outstanding in her performance, a tour de force, of a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown who loses all her money. For this, Blanchett won her second Academy Award, her third Golden Globe Award and her third Screen Actors Guild Award.
What is her best performance in your opinion? Leave a comment below!
