Cate Blanchett: a fierce force in her fifties

Cate Blanchett took home the Best Actress trophy at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards for her role in 'Tár,' but she had a few things to say about her win. She called the category "best actress" an "arbitrary" term "considering how many extraordinary performances" were done by women last year. Her fellow nominees were Viola Davis ('The Woman King'), Danielle Deadwyler ('Till'), Margot Robbie ('Babylon'), Michelle Williams ('The Fabelmans') and Michelle Yeoh ('Everything Everywhere All at Once').

The actress then took aim at the entire awards season. "I would love it if we would just change this whole f—ing structure. It's like what is this patriarchal pyramid where someone stands up here. Why don't we just say there was a whole raft of female performances that are in concert and in dialogue with one another?" The crowd applauded her, and though she also joked that it was "ridiculous" she was up there because "I'm so old!" Blanchett certainly deserved the recognition she received for her role.

1 / 38 Fotos

Middle child - Blanchett was born the middle child to Robert Blanchett and June Gamble. She has an older brother Bob, and a younger sister Genevieve.

2 / 38 Fotos

She always says goodbye - Blanchett's father passed away when she was a child, and since then she has made it a daily ritual to always say "goodbye" to everyone in the house when she leaves, she told The New Yorker.

3 / 38 Fotos

Ex-goth - As a teenager, she went through a few rebellious phases, including being a goth and shaving her hair. Stars—they're just like us!

4 / 38 Fotos

Menswear - She used to favor wearing traditionally masculine clothing as a teenager, which you can often see in her style now.

5 / 38 Fotos

Ideal Saturday night -

Blanchett's idea of a perfect Saturday night is on the sofa with the dog, a bowl of popcorn, clean kids, and a good film, according to Vanity Fair.

6 / 38 Fotos

On social media and red carpets - In an interview with Yahoo, Blanchett openly criticized approval-seeking social media culture, as well as the gendered experience of red carpet culture. After all, she loves a good blazer.

7 / 38 Fotos

Not a fan of the selfie - In the same interview, she talks about selfies: “It’s pathetic, the whole thing about people worrying about what other people are going to think.”

8 / 38 Fotos

Ancestors - Cate Blanchett’s ancestry includes English, some Scottish, and even some remote French. Maybe that explains her luminous skin tone?

9 / 38 Fotos

SK-II -

Blanchett's skin is one of her most shining features, and the skincare brand SK-II has used her as an ongoing ambassador since 2004.

10 / 38 Fotos

Fantastic without plastic - The actress has promised her husband she will never get plastic surgery.

11 / 38 Fotos

Tenderizing - Blanchett told Vogue about her outlandish beauty treatments in Korean bathhouses, "[getting] pummeled by those fantastic Korean women ... You feel like a slab of meat."

12 / 38 Fotos

The drama began early - Fittingly, Blanchett was the School Drama Captain while attending Methodist Ladies College in Melbourne, Australia.

13 / 38 Fotos

Rush rush - Blanchett's first major stage role was opposite Geoffrey Rush in the 1992 play 'Oleanna,' by the Sydney Theatre Company.

14 / 38 Fotos

A sweet Aussie for an Aussie sweet - Blanchett was the original Tim Tam girl in their legendary genie ads. The video can be seen here.

15 / 38 Fotos

Break out - Blanchett's breakout performance was playing the lead role in Shekhar Kapur's 'Elizabeth'.

16 / 38 Fotos

More awards than she can carry - According to IMDb, Blanchett has been nominated for more than 210 awards and won over 160, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, and three BAFTAs.

17 / 38 Fotos

Making history as a Hepburn - Blanchett played Katharine Hepburn in 'The Aviator' and won an Academy Award for it, making her the first person to win an Oscar for portraying a previous Oscar winner.

18 / 38 Fotos

'Thor: Ragnarok' - You can see Blanchett's acting range in her performance in the Marvel film as Hela, Thor's villainous sister.

19 / 38 Fotos

Married with kids - Blanchett and her husband, screenwriter Andrew Upton, have been married since December 29, 1997.

20 / 38 Fotos

An unconventional romance - Blanchett found Upton arrogant when they first met, but three weeks after clicking at an after-party, they were married!

21 / 38 Fotos

Mother of four - They always wanted to adopt according to Panda, and had three biological children. They then adopted their youngest, Edith.

22 / 38 Fotos

Recognition for her work - In 2017, Blanchett received the Queen's Companion of the Order of Australia honor for her contributions to the arts and being a role model.

23 / 38 Fotos

Views and values - Although Blanchett holds no public religious views, she has a strong interest in conservation and social issues.

24 / 38 Fotos

No-nonsense attitude at Cannes - Leading the female-majority jury at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, Blanchett spoke eloquently and realistically about female representation. "For profound, lasting change to occur, it has to take place through specific actions—not through generalizations, not through pontification," she said.

25 / 38 Fotos

Using her powers for good - Blanchett is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

26 / 38 Fotos

Free degrees! - Honorary degrees are awarded to recognize exceptional achievement or contribution in specific field. Blanchett has three from Australian universities.

27 / 38 Fotos

She won't be wearing a red cap - When she visited Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show,' Blanchett expressed her view of Trump, summed up in the words: "absurd and ridiculous."

28 / 38 Fotos

Protecting her industry - Blanchett signed an open letter to protect the Australian film industry, alongside actors Chris Hemsworth and Rose Byrne, against government funding cuts.

29 / 38 Fotos

Make It Australian - This initiative calls parliamentarians to commit to growing the screen industry.

30 / 38 Fotos

'Hot Fuzz' - Did you know Blanchett had a short cameo in 'Hot Fuzz'? At the beginning of the film, she played Janine, but you could only see her eyes.

31 / 38 Fotos

Elvish souvenirs - According to the Daily Mail, Blanchett's hubby kept her prosthetic ears she used when playing the role of Galadriel, Lady of Light, in the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' movies. For what? Who knows...

32 / 38 Fotos

Of course, she's gorgeous - People Magazine named her as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in 1999.

33 / 38 Fotos

Best dressed - Despite her qualms with the red carpet culture, Blanchett is one of the most stylish stars, and has as topped InStyle Magazine's 50 Best Dressed list multiple times.

34 / 38 Fotos

It's always a show - Blanchett reportedly considers fashion to be simply a costume.

35 / 38 Fotos

Quirky and sophisticated - "She’s considered a risk-taker," said her long-time stylist Elizabeth Stewart in InStyle. "Her natural taste leans toward the quirky and sophisticated."

36 / 38 Fotos

Eco-minded -

In keeping with her passion for conservation, Blanchett has also repeated outfits on red carpets as a part of Livia Firth’s Green Carpet Challenge.

Now, check out the other stars who champion sustainable fashion

37 / 38 Fotos

0 / 38 Fotos

She doesn't care much for awards -

1 / 38 Fotos

Middle child - Blanchett was born the middle child to Robert Blanchett and June Gamble. She has an older brother Bob, and a younger sister Genevieve.

2 / 38 Fotos

3 / 38 Fotos

Ex-goth - As a teenager, she went through a few rebellious phases, including being a goth and shaving her hair. Stars—they're just like us!

4 / 38 Fotos

Menswear - She used to favor wearing traditionally masculine clothing as a teenager, which you can often see in her style now.

5 / 38 Fotos

Ideal Saturday night -

Blanchett's idea of a perfect Saturday night is on the sofa with the dog, a bowl of popcorn, clean kids, and a good film, according to Vanity Fair.

6 / 38 Fotos

7 / 38 Fotos

Not a fan of the selfie - In the same interview, she talks about selfies: “It’s pathetic, the whole thing about people worrying about what other people are going to think.”

8 / 38 Fotos

Ancestors - Cate Blanchett’s ancestry includes English, some Scottish, and even some remote French. Maybe that explains her luminous skin tone?

9 / 38 Fotos

SK-II -

Blanchett's skin is one of her most shining features, and the skincare brand SK-II has used her as an ongoing ambassador since 2004.

Getty Images

10 / 38 Fotos

Fantastic without plastic - The actress has promised her husband she will never get plastic surgery.

11 / 38 Fotos

Tenderizing - Blanchett told Vogue about her outlandish beauty treatments in Korean bathhouses, "[getting] pummeled by those fantastic Korean women ... You feel like a slab of meat."

12 / 38 Fotos

The drama began early - Fittingly, Blanchett was the School Drama Captain while attending Methodist Ladies College in Melbourne, Australia.

13 / 38 Fotos

Rush rush - Blanchett's first major stage role was opposite Geoffrey Rush in the 1992 play 'Oleanna,' by the Sydney Theatre Company.

14 / 38 Fotos

A sweet Aussie for an Aussie sweet - Blanchett was the original Tim Tam girl in their legendary genie ads. The video can be seen here.

15 / 38 Fotos

Break out - Blanchett's breakout performance was playing the lead role in Shekhar Kapur's 'Elizabeth'.

16 / 38 Fotos

More awards than she can carry - According to IMDb, Blanchett has been nominated for more than 210 awards and won over 160, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, and three BAFTAs.

17 / 38 Fotos

Making history as a Hepburn - Blanchett played Katharine Hepburn in 'The Aviator' and won an Academy Award for it, making her the first person to win an Oscar for portraying a previous Oscar winner.

18 / 38 Fotos

'Thor: Ragnarok' - You can see Blanchett's acting range in her performance in the Marvel film as Hela, Thor's villainous sister.

19 / 38 Fotos

Married with kids - Blanchett and her husband, screenwriter Andrew Upton, have been married since December 29, 1997.

20 / 38 Fotos

An unconventional romance - Blanchett found Upton arrogant when they first met, but three weeks after clicking at an after-party, they were married!

21 / 38 Fotos

Mother of four - They always wanted to adopt according to Panda, and had three biological children. They then adopted their youngest, Edith.

22 / 38 Fotos

Recognition for her work - In 2017, Blanchett received the Queen's Companion of the Order of Australia honor for her contributions to the arts and being a role model.

23 / 38 Fotos

Views and values - Although Blanchett holds no public religious views, she has a strong interest in conservation and social issues.

24 / 38 Fotos

25 / 38 Fotos

Using her powers for good - Blanchett is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

26 / 38 Fotos

Free degrees! - Honorary degrees are awarded to recognize exceptional achievement or contribution in specific field. Blanchett has three from Australian universities.

27 / 38 Fotos

She won't be wearing a red cap - When she visited Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show,' Blanchett expressed her view of Trump, summed up in the words: "absurd and ridiculous."

28 / 38 Fotos

Protecting her industry - Blanchett signed an open letter to protect the Australian film industry, alongside actors Chris Hemsworth and Rose Byrne, against government funding cuts.

29 / 38 Fotos

Make It Australian - This initiative calls parliamentarians to commit to growing the screen industry.

30 / 38 Fotos

'Hot Fuzz' - Did you know Blanchett had a short cameo in 'Hot Fuzz'? At the beginning of the film, she played Janine, but you could only see her eyes.

31 / 38 Fotos

32 / 38 Fotos

Of course, she's gorgeous - People Magazine named her as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in 1999.

33 / 38 Fotos

Best dressed - Despite her qualms with the red carpet culture, Blanchett is one of the most stylish stars, and has as topped InStyle Magazine's 50 Best Dressed list multiple times.

34 / 38 Fotos

It's always a show - Blanchett reportedly considers fashion to be simply a costume.

35 / 38 Fotos

Quirky and sophisticated - "She’s considered a risk-taker," said her long-time stylist Elizabeth Stewart in InStyle. "Her natural taste leans toward the quirky and sophisticated."

36 / 38 Fotos

Eco-minded -

In keeping with her passion for conservation, Blanchett has also repeated outfits on red carpets as a part of Livia Firth’s Green Carpet Challenge.

Now, check out the other stars who champion sustainable fashion

37 / 38 Fotos

Cate Blanchett: a fierce force in her fifties

Blanchett earns Best Actress nod for 'Tár,' marking her eighth Oscar nomination

24/01/23 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Actresses

Cate Blanchett has just been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress to celebrate her role in the psychological drama 'Tár,' marking her eighth Oscar nomination total in her illustrious career. She's previously won the Best Supporting Actress award for 'The Aviator' (2005) and the Best Actress award for 'Blue Jasmine' (2014).

The Melbourne-born movie star has made her mark in Hollywood, from action to drama, period piece to sci-fi fantasy, time and again.Check out these fun facts you never knew about the inimitable Cate Blanchett.