The “intimidating” co-star Cate Blanchett admitted was difficult: “His reputation precedes him”
Many characteristics go into becoming a great actor. According to longtime admirers of Cate Blanchett, bravery is one of them.
Blanchett is one of the most prevalent names when it comes to Hollywood royalty, especially among those who also hold similar reputations and titles. Meryl Streep, for one, once gave Blanchett the kind of testimony that most actors could only ever dream of, saying that she’s one of the bravest in the industry, and someone she aspires to be like.
“She’s an actress that is not only gifted and talented,” said Streep. “Cate Blanchett is above all a brave actress. One has to be brave, for example, to play in A Streetcar Named Desire in Broadway. I really admire her enormously, and I’d really love to resemble her.”
Another quality that people admire about Blanchett, despite her years in the game, is how cool she is. It takes a lot to attract such descriptions, especially in a way that doesn’t seem forced or tryhard. However, being cool is as much a part of Blanchett’s DNA as her acting ability, stemming from a mix of her outward appearance and innate versatility with any role she takes on.
For instance, you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody who’d be able to pull off some of the more quirky or off-kilter opportunities that Blanchett takes on, like her stint at Glastonbury in 2023, when she briefly appeared onstage alongside Sparks during a performance of ‘The Girl is Crying in her Latte’, which she also appeared in the music video. The best part was that the dancing was Blanchett’s idea – and Sparks were just along for the ride, letting her take the reins and do what she felt was right.
With all that considered, it’s easy to see why people think of Blanchett as one of the most unshakeable names in the business – the kind who’ll always go the extra mile to deliver the best performance possible, no matter who she’s working with or sharing the screen with.
That might sound like a fair take – especially if you go by what others have said about her over the years – but it doesn’t mean Blanchett’s journey has been without its bumps. Even she’s had to deal with co-stars whose presence on set can be a bit unnerving, even if they’re both ultimately chasing the same goal. A good example came during 2010’s Robin Hood, when she told Parade that Russell Crowe came with a bit of a reputation.
“Russell is not always easy,” said Blanchett. “His reputation both as an actor and as an intimidating presence precedes him. But he’s always after making the best possible film. I’m not backward in coming forward, so we had some, shall I say, ‘robust’ conversations.”
She went on, “When I’m working, I like to push it right to the edge. I believe if you’re going to do something, you should do it all the way. Don’t take a journey if you know you’re going to be bored. As far as being competitive, I think the only useful competition I’ve had is with myself.”
Blanchett also reflected on what it was like as a female actor alongside male co-stars, saying that the biggest challenge was how she looked, especially during action scenes, when it’s often expected that female actors will always look more beautiful or more gracious. However, as irritating or unfortunate as that may be, that’s also part and parcel of why Blanchett accrued such a positive reputation. Pandering to expectations might be there in the back of her mind, but it ultimately enables her to enjoy the job even more, knowing that she can still block out the noise when it counts.
As she said, “Personally, I’d love to turn into a chameleon. I love watching performances that aren’t hampered by all that personal baggage from real life.”
