“It was a journey into the unknown”: the role that marked a huge departure for Cate Blanchett
During the beginning of the 1990s, Cate Blanchett was a modest actor, appearing on stage and in several minor television roles, mainly in her native Australia. Yet, by the end of the decade, she was well known in the film industry, rising to prominence due to a leading role in the period drama Elizabeth, playing the titular character as she ascended the throne in the 1500s. The film was well-received, and Blanchett ended up earning an Oscar nomination for her efforts.
That was just the beginning of Blanchett’s film career; she has since been awarded two Academy Awards alongside six other nominations, making her one of the most acclaimed stars of her generation. After Elizabeth, Blanchett starred in The Talented Mr Ripley, a ‘90s classic, before appearing in an array of romantic dramas, thrillers, and period pieces. She became more widely known for her role as Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and soon picked up her first Oscar win with a part in The Aviator.
Throughout the following years, Blanchett’s star power continued to rise, and she was praised for performances in movies like Blue Jasmine, Babel, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Carol, and Tár.
However, the continuous recognition she has received doesn’t mean she has found acting easy all of the time. There have been roles that have greatly challenged Blanchett, putting her out of her comfort zone. Sometimes, though, to prosper as an actor, one must be placed in situations that are strange and unfamiliar. This acts as a test of adaptability, and for Blanchett, it’s clear she has what it takes to suit any role that is thrown her way.
Blanchett decided to “journey into the unknown” for the western drama The Missing in 2003, directed by Ron Howard. The actor told the BBC that she has never been the biggest fan of the genre, but she challenged herself with the role. “I must admit I was not particularly au fait with the genre. My father is from Texas, and I grew up hearing John Wayne films bouncing and shooting away on a Sunday afternoon, but it was a very male-dominated genre for me,” she shared.
She continued: “What interested me was how much of a departure this was in that you have three interesting, across the generations, female characters, literally riding alongside the male characters. Also the emotional and psychological depth of the characters was, for me, a lot richer than I’ve seen in a western. But never once did it sacrifice the thrill of the chase.”
The Missing is set in the late 1800s, with Blanchett starring alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Evan Rachel Wood, Val Kilmer, Aaron Eckhart, and Elisabeth Moss. The movie takes a much more female-centric approach to the genre, with Blanchett’s character struggling to forgive her father, who returns after several years of absence. Yet, they have no choice but to work with each other when they must rescue the missing girls, including her daughter, who have been kidnapped in the area.
The film received mixed reviews, but it was praised for its use of authentic Apache language, which is rare in mainstream cinema.
