Cate Blanchett

Celebrating Cate Blanchett

It is quite difficult to try to talk about someone you deeply admire, and why, it either feels like too much or not enough. 

If someone were to ask me who my favourite actor is, I would say (without hesitation) Cate Blanchett. I was first struck by her immeasurable talent as a teenager from her performance as Jasmine French in the 2013 film Blue Jasmine. As a (then) aspiring actor, I was galvanised by her performance and began to dig into more and more of her new and old work, from film to television to stage. Though I no longer act, I am still just as galvanised and inspired by her work as an artist, perhaps even more so now than I was then. Blanchett has played everyone from Queen Elizabeth I to Bob Dylan, to a southern psychic, to an elf queen, to Katharine Hepburn, and many more. She has worked with a slew of iconic directors such as Todd Haynes, Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro, David Fincher, Gillian Armstrong, Todd Field, Wes Anderson, and more. 

What has always attracted me to her work as an actor is the way that she can get to the very root of every character she plays. With incredible versatility, she can fully disappear into a character and find the humanity in all of them, and just when you think you’ve seen Blanchett at her best, she goes and outdoes herself again. It is quite difficult to try to talk about someone you deeply admire, and why, it either feels like too much or not enough. Blanchett’s work has had a massive impact on my life in many ways. In the thought and care that she brings to characters like Carol Aird, the intensity and depth that she brings to characters like Lydia Tár, or the physicality and spirit that she brings to Bob Dylan. Whatever the case may be, I have had the pleasure of watching Cate Blanchett in various roles, leaving me awestruck by her talent for almost my entire life, inspiring my work once, as an actor, and now as an artist. 

So, in honour of her birthday, I have compiled a list of must-see Cate Blanchett performances and why I think, if you’re in the mood to celebrate, they’re well worth your time. 

Elizabeth (1998)

“I am no man’s Elizabeth.” 

Released in 1998 and now widely regarded as Blanchett’s breakout performance, garnering her first Academy Award nomination and her first Golden Globe win, Elizabeth is a sweeping biopic of Elizabeth I, also known as "The Virgin Queen". Though Blanchett had a few films and television appearances based mostly in Australia at this point, for many international audiences, this was their introduction to her work, and what an introduction it was! Elizabeth, directed by Shekhar Kapur, follows the early years of Elizabeth I’s reign, which began shortly after the death of her half-sister Mary, as she took her place on the throne. What makes Elizabeth a must-watch performance is all that we, as the audience, get to watch Blanchett do. When we first see Elizabeth take the throne (she would have been 25), she is so young, so green, so vulnerable, and we can see that plain as day in Blanchett’s performance. 

From the first time we see her, one is struck with the immense presence that she possesses and though Blanchett was only 29 at the time, she simply commands the screen. As Elizabeth, Blanchett brings an intense vulnerability to the character, and something that makes her performance so thrilling is that we see her maintain that vulnerability as the film progresses while also gaining a steely confidence. It is that vulnerability, mixed with razor-sharp wit and seemingly unshakable confidence, that makes this a must-watch performance. By all standards, it’s a solid biopic, not entirely historically accurate, but that matters very little when you get to watch a performance such as this. It is staggering to witness the ability that she has to command the screen so early on in her career, a presence and a talent well beyond her years, and it’s exciting to watch this performance and gain a glimpse into the beginning of what would be, and has been, an incredible career. 

Where to Watch: available to rent on Prime Video or Apple TV (Canada) 

I’m Not There (2007)

“People think I have some kind of fantastic imagination, but it gets very lonesome.”

I’m Not There, directed by Todd Haynes, marked Blanchett’s first collaboration with the director. Released in 2007, the film follows various actors all portraying the iconic musician, Bob Dylan. If you were a fan of the recent Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet, I highly recommend giving I’m Not There a watch, as it is an entirely different take on Dylan and his career. It’s an unconventional biopic, so don’t expect it to be anything like the most recent one, but that’s one of the things I love most about it. For each of Dylan’s musical eras, a different actor steps in to play Dylan, this unique and esoteric way of depicting Dylan’s life and career only adds to his illusive and enigmatic nature, leaving those who may not be as familiar with Dylan feeling as though they may not have gained any more insight into understanding who he really is at this core, but that seems to be the point. Aside from Blanchett, the film also stars the late great Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Ben Whishaw, Julianne Moore, Richard Gere, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and many more. Blanchett plays Dylan during his rock/electric era, going by the name of Jude Quinn. Although "plays" doesn’t feel like a strong enough word, because really, Blanchett embodies Dylan. 

From the moment we see Blanchett’s Dylan/Jude Quinn, it is undeniable that she fully captures his physicality, right down to the way she holds a cigarette. Playing a real person must be a daunting task. Especially when the person you’re playing is so well known and has such an iconic way of speaking, and that can easily veer into caricature territory, but instead of that, Blanchett gives us the iteration of Dylan with perhaps the most depth; capturing Dylan’s vanity, wit, and at times, arrogance. Blanchett’s complete transformation into this era of Dylan is only aided by the Felliniesque style cinematography, which elevates the spirit of him that she so captures. For me, this is perhaps Blanchett’s most underrated performance, because with only 27 minutes of screentime, one can’t help but leave thinking about her performance for a while afterwards. I rewatched the film in preparation for writing this piece and was struck by how long I spent thinking about it afterwards.

Where to Watch: available to rent on Apple TV (Canada) 

Carol (2015)

“What a strange girl you are, flung out of space.”

One of Cate Blanchett’s most well-known and highly lauded performances by critics and fans alike. Carol was adapted by Phyllis Nagy from the 1952 novel The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith and stars Blanchett alongside Rooney Mara and is directed by Todd Haynes. Set in New York City in the 1950s, Carol follows the story of Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), a shy woman who, while working at a department store during the holiday season, meets a wealthy housewife going through a divorce, named Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett). The two women fall in love and thus begin a secret affair as they travel across the United States together. Carol is a must-see film, as well as a must-see performance for many reasons. Since its release, it has become an iconic film with a large portion of the queer community. For myself, it was the first time I had seen a lesbian relationship portrayed on screen, and one with a happy/hopeful ending at that. It’s given me and many others the chance to feel seen and represented in a way I hadn’t before seeing the film, and to put it plainly, this film changed my life. This may not have been the case had the characters of Carol and Therese not been portrayed as beautifully by Blanchett and Mara. 

Blanchett’s performance as Carol is nothing short of brilliant. It’s a quietly powerful performance, in that so much of what makes her performance so impactful is what lies in the eyes and small, intimate gestures. It is also in the multidimensionality that Blanchett adds to the character. Carol is at once; cool, playful, and flirty, emitting an ethereal beauty and confidence, but in an instant, and at times in a single glance, we see a different side of her; a deep inner sadness and heartbreak, and as Blanchett peels back all of the layers and complexities that exist within this character, that by the end of the film she has laid bare Carol’s very soul. Blanchett doesn’t need to say anything at times because everything is being said in her eyes. Her moving performance as Carol, along with Mara’s, Therese's, and the entire cast, and the film on the whole, is not to be missed as it’s clear that it was made with so much love and care, and that shines through. I believe Carol will withstand the test of time and continue to resonate and move audiences for years to come. 

Where to Watch: available to rent on Prime Video or Apple TV and stream on Tubi and Paramount + (Canada) 

TÁR (2022)

“If you want to dance the mask, you must service the composer. You’ve got to sublimate yourself, your ego, and yes, your identity. You must, in fact, stand in front of the public and God and obliterate yourself.”

Where to begin with TÁR? With a script written by Todd Field, specifically for Blanchett, with the intention that if she were to decline the role, he would not proceed with making the film. Not to mention, the film itself is almost impossible to cement into one particular genre (and why would one want to?); it contains elements of drama, comedy, and some might even venture to say elements of a thriller. 

With an incredibly thorough and compelling script, as well as direction by Field, along with what I believe to be Blanchett’s best performance, TÁR is an absolute must-watch. The film follows the life of Lydia Tár, chief conductor of the Berlin orchestra, as she prepares to conduct a recording of the massive undertaking that is Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. Though this all begins to fall to the wayside when allegations of misconduct at the hands of Lydia Tár are brought into the limelight, and what follows takes the audience on a journey of the consequences of her choices and her actions. I generally don’t tend to loosely throw around the phrase "masterclass in acting", but I do believe this performance to be just that. We quite literally watch a character fall from grace, and to be able to watch where the character ends up from point A at the beginning of the film, to point B by the end, is a feat of storytelling and acting alike.

I think it can be easily forgotten just how difficult some of the things Blanchett does in TÁR actually are, because she does them so well and makes them look so effortless. Whether that be slipping from English into fluent German, playing the piano, or conducting an entire orchestra, Blanchett does all of these things and makes them look like they are second nature, and tells a compelling story while doing it all. She makes this character feel so real and so lived in, bringing to life a character full of complexities, charisma, and flaws that one can’t help but be drawn to and intrigued by the story. With a runtime of two hours and thirty-eight minutes, Blanchett gives a powerhouse performance that will have you glued to the screen and will generate much discussion as the credits begin to roll. 

Where to Watch: available to stream on Netflix and rent on Prime Video or Apple TV (Canada) 

Manifesto (2015)

“Nothing is original.” 

Directed by Julian Rosefeldt in 2015 as part of an art installation, Manifesto is the most ambitious and abstract project included in this list, and the project to watch if you are in the mood to be challenged. Though it initially premiered at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and was subsequently shown at galleries in Canada, Germany, and the United States, the film can be watched outside of a gallery setting and enjoyed just as thoroughly. Manifesto follows thirteen different characters ranging from a teacher, a factory worker, a choreographer, a news anchor, a puppeteer, and more. The kicker is, every single character is played by Blanchett. Every character receives their own segment of the film, each with their own manifesto, whether it be artistic or political, from Karl Marx’s The Communist Manifesto, to Tristan Tzara’s, Dada Manifesto. Manifesto keeps its audience on their toes, and this is driven home by Blanchett’s outstanding performance(s). Crafting thirteen characters is a huge undertaking to say the least, but to not only craft those characters, but to do so, so that each one possesses their own unique qualities and characteristics and feels fully fleshed out is another thing entirely, and Blanchett does that and more. Manifesto is a truly inspiring piece to watch. 

Each character that Blanchett has created feels different from the last; her dialect and voice work is subtle but incredibly effective, even if it is a slight change in an accent or inflection, it makes a difference for each character. This can also be said for the different physicalities she brings to each character, whether that be the gate change when playing a man, to the slight change in posture and way that she carries herself as a news anchor, you truly forget that you are watching the same actor. 

I think this (Manifesto) is a perfect summation of watching Cate Blanchett’s work, you get to see with various examples, the way that she transforms herself fully and disappears into each role, and the versatility and precision with which she has crafted each character. You are constantly struck and compelled by each of them and their individual manifesto. You want to know more about each of these people, so much so, their (sometimes) ten-minute segments don’t feel nearly long enough. Though Manifesto may have been created (at first) to be enjoyed in a gallery setting (and I do feel that that experience would only elevate this), it can still be enjoyed from the comfort of your home. For in it, you see the immense talent that Blanchett possesses, and why she is often referred to as "Cate the Great."

Where to Watch: Available to rent on Apple TV (Canada)

To watch Cate Blanchett act is very special. The variety of characters and stories that we, as audiences, have had the pleasure of seeing from her over the years leaves me constantly amazed. That someone who is at the top of their craft, yet continues to always do something new with their work, and is striving to tell new stories. Cate Blanchett has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on film, television, and stage, and is without a doubt one of the greatest actors of all time.

My hope is that if you have made it this far, you can sit with this list of performances and films and perhaps give one a watch, or put on something entirely different from her filmography if you feel so inclined. It’s been nothing but a joy to compile this list and write about someone whom I admire so deeply. When speaking of the power of art, Tennesse Williams once said, “this is what art can do. Art should be the arm and the shoulder and the kind eyes—all of which let others know you deserve to live and to be loved. That is what matters, baby. Bringing people home”. To me, this is what it feels like to watch Cate Blanchett’s work; the stories and the characters make us feel seen, moved, and understood, help us to understand others, and bring us home. 

Honourable Mentions: Little Fish (directed by Rowan Woods), Notes on a Scandal (directed by Richard Eyre), Bandits (directed by Barry Levinson), The Aviator (directed by Martin Scorsese), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (directed by Shekhar Kapur), Rumours (directed by Guy Maddin). 

Photos : Getty Images, Dresdner Philharmonie, Polygram Films, Greg Williams, Hollywood Authentic, James Ewing