Cate Blanchett: A Life in Pictures

Blanchett, award-winning international star of The Talented Mr Ripley and Lord of the Rings, has shared how her dream job is “not talking on film”.

Blanchett is no stranger to high-profile awards – winning an Actress in a Leading Role BAFTA for her compelling portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in 1998’s Elizabeth.

She went on to win a supporting actress nomination for hit drama The Talented Mr. Ripley – a category she won in 2005 for epic Martin Scorsese-directed biopic The Aviator.

During the  in-depth Life in Pictures interview she spoke about preparing for her lead role in Veronica Guerin as a campaigning journalist with interviewer Quentin Falk.

“The most useful tool for me was the radio interviews she gave because you’re not distracted by the visuals,” she said.

“Our syntax often reveals our psychology – and that really came across on radio.”

Watch highlights from the event below:

Blanchett’s first film, Elizabeth, catapulted her to international success. It was followed by big hits like The Aviator, where she played Katherine Hepburn, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

She closely watched Hepburn’s screwball comedies to create her own take on the Hollywood star.

“Scorsese insistently showed us His Girl Friday – [for] the speed and the energy and the precision of the delivery,” she said.

“That was my entry point into the film.”

Since The Aviator, Blanchett has been nominated for two more BAFTAs. One for her dazzling performance as Bob Dylan in I’m Not There, and another for her return to Queen Elizabeth in Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

During the special Life in Pictures event, she spoke about her early theatre background in Australia. This included how she learned to audition effectively after spending time supervising readings. She then also talked in depth about her biggest film performances.

For more inspiring Life in Pictures stories from the world of film, games and TV explore our BAFTA News Stories section.