Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett’s name is always enough to watch a movie, thanks to the confidence the fans have in her built through years of watching her amazing work. Her brilliant performance, instinctive talent, and ability to reflect the most complex characters have placed her in the ranks of legends. 

Even in some of the movies that were overrated or just not for all tastes, her outstanding performance was one of the things that kept us watching. Cate Blanchett is definitely one of the embodiment queens who can play a wide range of characters. She has an unmistakable talent and presence, which is why the audience and critics love her, and she is adored by movie screens.

Cate Blanchett Career

Catherine Elise Blanchett, actress and theatre director, is among the most famous actresses in the world thanks to her diverse roles and distinguished performances. Blanchett first gained some fame in her home country, Australia, by appearing in films and television series. With her first international appearance, she attracted attention and then became one of the most famous and successful actresses in the world.

But did you know that her career began in an unusual and quirky way? She was just 18 years old when she was approached to participate as an extra in a movie by a visitor to her hotel while she was on holiday in Egypt. She took the opportunity and appeared in the Egyptian movie Kaboria (Crab 1990), marking the start of her journey to Hollywood.

Blanchett’s real breakthrough came in the mid-nineties with her roles in Australian TV programmes and movies. The talented Australian young lady achieved international fame and wide acclaim when she played Queen Elizabeth I in 1998, a role that earned her a well-deserved Academy Award nomination.

Blanchett gained the confidence to take on more iconic roles after this nomination and began to take bolder and more steadfast steps in her career. After a few years, she was able to present unforgettable acting performances, which we will talk about in detail later.

On the other hand, Cate Blanchett is not only a natural-born actress and hard-working person but also an active member of the international community. Cate Blanchett has supported many humanitarian and social causes, such as women’s rights and environmental preservation. She was also chosen as a Goodwill Ambassador for Refugees in 2016.

Cate Blanchett Oscars

We can say that Cate Blanchett’s front-row seating at the Oscars is one of the traditions of the ceremony. This is not an exaggeration; Blanchett has outperformed many of her colleagues and has received eight Oscar nominations, of which she won twice.

• Nomination for Elizabeth in 1998.
• Nomination and win for The Aviator in 2004.
• Nomination for Notes on a Scandal in 2006.
• Nomination for Elizabeth: The Golden Age in 2007.
• Nomination for I’m Not There in 2007.
• Nomination and win for Blue Jasmine in 2013.
• Nomination for Carol in 2015.
• Nomination for Tár in 2022.

Cate Blanchett Best Movies

It’s no secret to any observer of the movie scene that Cate Blanchett has an innate talent to portray the most difficult and complex characters. Despite her ability, skills, and success in performing difficult characters, she did not limit herself to one template. 

Blanchett has presented many different characters during her career. Every time she was able to prove her talent and sincerity and that she is a high-calibre actress. Therefore, she is able to achieve the difficult equation and charm the hearts of critics and the audience. 

Let’s take you on a tour of her best performances and review together the beauty of the roles and the variety of characters and stories. Allow us to introduce you to acting legend Cate Blanchett’s greatest roles:

Tár (2022)

• Role: Lydia Tar
• Director: Todd Field
• Genre: Drama/Psychological drama
• Running time: 2h 38m
• Cast: Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, and Sophie Kauer.

In the long opening scene of Tár, Cate Blanchett manages to convey to us many dimensions of the character. So much so that when we watched that scene alone, we had no doubt that she would be nominated for an Oscar. Blanchett has outdone herself by learning how to be a conductor, speaking fluent German, and relaying the details of her abusive character, Lydia Tár, with impeccable craftsmanship.

The movie is a psychological drama about workplace assaults and abuses of power and influence. Although opinions differed about the movie itself, everyone agreed on Cate Blanchett’s ingenuity.

Tár has a 90% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences have a score of 74% who say:

Tár can be difficult to follow, although Cate Blanchett in the title role makes it mostly worth the effort.

Carol (2015)

• Role: Carol Aird
• Director: Todd Haynes
• Genre: Romance/Drama
• Running time: 1h 58m
• Cast: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, and John Magaro.

In this romantic drama, Cate Blanchett was able to master the character of Carol, the woman who is in a conflict between her family role and her falling in love. This minority drama has been named among the best movies of the 21st century. Of course, Blanchett was nominated for an Oscar for this brilliant performance.

Carol has a rating of 94% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, while it scored 74% from audiences. Critic Bill Goodykoontz wrote:

Cate Blanchett is outstanding as a married woman who falls for a younger woman. As that younger woman, Rooney Mara is even better.

Nightmare Alley (2021)

• Role: Dr. Lilith Ritter
• Director: Guillermo del Toro
• Genre: Mystery & Thriller/Crime
• Running time: 2h 30m
• Cast: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Toni Collette.

In this role, Cate Blanchett brings a style of acting that viewers haven’t seen before with a convincing performance. Blanchett manages to highlight her talent in this movie as a sophisticated psychologist, and she forms a wonderful pair with Bradley Cooper.

Although the audience’s opinions on this movie were mixed, critics praised Blanchett’s performance and her talent in expressing various feelings with her eyes and tone of voice. Nightmare Alley received 81% of Rotten Tomatoes critics and 68% of the audience. From audience reviews, one wrote:

Well crafted and well-performed, Nightmare Alley is a solid psychological thriller. The overlong runtime does make the plot seem more complex than it is, but beyond that, the cinematography is fantastic, and the production design is visually astounding. Cooper and Collette were astonishing, and Cate Blanchett stole the show.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

• Role: Galadriel
• Director: Peter Jackson
• Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
• Running time: 2h 58m
• Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, and Cate Blanchett.

Blanchett gave a perfect performance in The Lord of the Rings. Lady Galadriel was the all-knowing voice of reason and wisdom who aided Frodo with knowledge in his quest to defeat Sauron.

Although The Lord of the Rings trilogy is packed with top-notch actors and well-drawn characters, Cate Blanchett delivered a performance to remember that made her the centre of attention, and she was able, in a pretty small space, to steal the hearts of all lovers of this magical world. This was demonstrated by her scene with Frodo in the mirror during The Fellowship of the Ring.

The first part of The Lord of the Rings saga was a huge public success, with audience ratings of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. It got 91% in critics’ reviews, and the highlighted review on the website said:

Full of eye-popping special effects and featuring a pitch-perfect cast, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring brings J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic to vivid life.

The Aviator (2004)

• Role: Katherine Hepburn
• Director: Martin Scorsese
• Genre: Biography/History
• Running time: 2h 46m
• Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, and John C. Reilly.

Unsurprisingly, Cate Blanchett won her first Oscar for her performance in this film, as she portrayed her role so smoothly. That’s because she gave a performance worth studying when she played Katharine Hepburn, the former Oscar-winning actress. Blanchett excelled in the role, even perfecting the classic Hepburn accent.

In this Martin Scorsese masterpiece, the duo of Cate Blanchett and Leonardo DiCaprio perfectly portray the romantic relationship between Howard Hughes and Katharine Hepburn.

The Aviator got a rating of 86% from Rotten Tomatoes critics, while the audience gave it 79%, including those who wrote about the movie these words:

The best acting performance from Cate Blanchett! With the best casting ever done in a movie! Plus, the best directing from Martin Scorsese! Also, the best production design ever done in a movie! And the best sound mixing ever done in a movie!

Don’t Look Up (2021)

• Role: Brie Evantee
• Director: Adam McKay
• Genre: Comedy
• Running time: 2h 18m
• Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Rob Morgan, Tyler Perry, and Ariana Grande.

Even though the cast of this movie is stuffed with A-list stars, it was not a very good movie for many audiences. Nevertheless, Cate Blanchett’s lively performance of this unsavoury character was well received. Blanchett has quite succeeded in getting to the heart of this seemingly soulless character.

Wondering how well Cate Blanchett got the role of co-host on a morning talk show? To the extent that many of the audience did not recognize her, searches increased for the question: “Who is the blonde in Don’t Look Up?”

Don’t Look Up got a rating of 56% from Rotten Tomatoes critics, while the audience rated it 78%. The featured review on the website stated:

Don’t Look Up aims too high for its “scattershot barbs to consistently land, but Adam McKay’s star-studded satire hits its target of collective denial square on.

Elizabeth (1998)

• Role: Elizabeth I
• Director: Shekhar Kapur
• Genre: History/Drama
• Running time: 2h 1m
• Cast: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, and Richard Attenborough.

Cate Blanchett got the international recognition she deserved when the movie Elizabeth was released. The 28-year-old Australian girl was able to catch the eye as she took her first steps. This happened thanks to her elaborate performance in the film, and she succeeded in embodying the character of Queen Elizabeth I as she ascended the English throne and faced internal divisions and conspiracies of those who sought to destroy her.

Blanchett’s masterful performance earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and secured her a seat in the Oscar nominations that year. Elizabeth received critical acclaim, with an audience rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, while it received a critical rating of 83%, with a highlighted review saying:

No mere historical drama, Elizabeth is a rich, suspenseful journey into the heart of British Royal politics, and features a typically outstanding performance from Cate Blanchett.

Notes on a Scandal (2006)

• Role: Sheba Hart
• Director: Richard Eyre
• Genre: Drama
• Running time: 1h 38m
• Cast: Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett, Andrew Simpson, and Bill Nighy.

A movie that was made brilliantly, especially in the miraculous acting matches between Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench, who were well-deserved Oscar nominations this year. The story is simple yet a rollercoaster that intensifies as the plot develops— a female teacher who begins a relationship with one of her students.

The highlight of this brilliant psychological drama is the contrast between Blanchett’s elegant, calm performance and Dench’s menacing performance. Notes on a Scandal has a rating of 88% from critics and 83% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The featured review on the same site stated:

In this sharp psychological thriller, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give fierce, memorable performances as two schoolteachers locked in a battle of wits.

Blue Jasmine (2013)

• Role: Jasmine
• Director: Woody Allen
• Genre: Drama
• Running time: 1h 38m
• Cast: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K., and Sally Hawkins.

Blue Jasmine is the highlight of Cate Blanchett’s acting career in the eyes of many of her fans. Accordingly, she deserved to win the Best Actress Oscar thanks to her mastery and embodiment of the character of Jasmine, the rich woman who loses everything and moves to San Francisco to start over and try to make something out of nothing.

Blanchett was able to seamlessly reflect the character’s struggles and inner complexities to the point where she made it seem easy even though it was not. Blue Jasmine is one of the films that got a very good critical reception. Critics on Rotten Tomatoes rated it 91%, while audiences rated it 77%. The same website wrote:

Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine finds the director in peak late-period form — and benefiting from a superb cast led by Cate Blanchett.

In conclusion, there is no doubt that Cate Blanchett is among the most talented, hardworking and dedicated actresses. During her career, she was able to build trust between herself and the audience, thanks to her smart choices of roles and her success in overcoming one challenge after another. Cate Blanchett’s name will remain one of the world cinema icons. Although her career is already filled with exceptional performances, audiences are still waiting for more from her and looking forward to the next.