A Filmmaker's Guide to: Cate Blanchett

In this chapter of ‘the filmmaker’s guide’ we’re actually going to be learning about literature and film together. I understand that many of you are sitting in university during difficult times and finding it increasingly hard to study and I understand that many of you who are not at university or not planning on it are possibly stuck of what to do, need a break or even need to catch up on learning film before you get to the next level. This guide will be brief but will also contain: new vocabulary, concepts and theories, films to watch and we will be exploring something taboo until now in the ‘filmmaker’s guide’ - academia (abyss opens). Each article will explore a different concept of film, philosophy, literature or bibliography/filmography etc. in order to give you something new to learn each time we see each other. You can use some of the words amongst family and friends to sound clever or you can get back to me (email in bio) and tell me how you’re doing. So, strap in and prepare for the filmmaker’s guide to film studies because it is going to be one wild ride.

Cate Blanchett

Who is she?

Cate Blanchett is an actress known for her take on the world of female roles in Hollywood. Challenging the stereotype of the hyper-feminine, Cate Blanchett has managed to carve out a very Katharine Hepburn-esque name for herself as being able to portray the feminine as well as the androgynous woman - even to the point of portraying Katharine Hepburn herself. She has become one of the most well-respected and greatest actresses of all time thanks to her extensive amazing work, her multiple awards and her ability to become absolutely anyone.

What did she do?

She challenged the roles of women, becoming something else entirely. She took on the fact that women could only portray the delicate creatures and came out on top as one of the most diversely talented women in acting. Her skills have taken her to portray some of history's most interesting singers, actors and other figures. Her portrayal of fictional characters has always been three-dimensional as she has often played the character of distance, problem and of extensive personality. Never really taking the back seat, Cate Blanchett worked from nothing to become who she is today and she is definitely going to be remembered for doing so.

As one of my top five favourite actresses of all time, Cate Blanchett's movies have been a great watch for most of my life and here are some of the works that I think you should watch if you have not seen them already.

Greatest Works:

Elizabeth I (1998/2007)

Elizabeth I historical biopic depictions would not have been what they are today without the ones by Cate Blanchett in 1998 and 2007. She had become one of the most well-respected actresses in Hollywood when she performed "The Golden Age" and yet, she is always the mark for what we have to consider when we are watching someone portray Elizabeth I. If you watch "Mary, Queen of Scots" you can see that Margot Robbie's performance of the same character is heavily based upon Cate Blanchett's performance.

The Aviator (2004)

In this one, she portrays Katharine Hepburn opposite Leonardo DiCaprio who portrays Howard Hughes - the Aviator. I think that this was such an important role for Cate Blanchett seeing as she is basically the modern version of Katharine Hepburn. She looks like Katharine Hepburn, she portrays characters who can be considered androgynous like Katharine Hepburn and she has the same acting range as Katharine Hepburn. It would have been a decision, I can imagine, that was very easy for the casting director.

I'm Not There (2007)

This is my favourite film of all time as you all know and in this one, Cate Blanchett does not just portray a man, but she portrays Bob Dylan. Alongside many other characters who also play Bob Dylan, Cate Blanchett is not only the only woman to play him but she also plays him at a time when he was considered his most famous - the era in which he had just gone electric. Her performance is amazing and very much uncanny. It is not only brilliant, it is actually scary how much she is like him.

Other great films starring Cate Blanchett:

• Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
• Carol (2015)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Conclusion

As one of the greatest actresses of all time, Cate Blanchett is still to this day, expanding her reach in film. She has over fifty works under her belt and still, she continues to push the bar as far as it can go.