Cate Blanchett on actors not being ‘celebrated’ in Australia: ‘We don’t often know what we have here’

Cate Blanchett - who dazzled as Lydia Tár, a globally-renowned conductor facing accusations of misconduct, in Todd Field’s psychological drama film Tár - recently revealed that actors are not celebrated enough in her native Australia, as they have to ‘constantly justify’ their career choice.

Also read: Tár review: A Cate Blanchett masterclass in this gripping drama

Considered one of the best performers of her generation, the Academy Award-winning actress was recently attending an event in the Roslyn Packer Theatre at the prestigious Sydney Theatre Company, which she ran along with her husband, playwright-director Andrew Upton, between 2008 and 2011. 

Also read: Cate Blanchett calls out cancel culture: It’s important to have a ‘healthy critique’

Speaking at the event, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button actress reportedly said, “The worst thing for us as an actor in Australia is getting in the back of the cab and a cabbie asking ‘What do you do?’ Because you think, ‘Oh, God …’. You’re constantly having to fight for space or to justify the fact that you have the right to actually be an artist in Australia. But yet overseas, our culture is celebrated and sung and praised but we don’t often do it internally. We don’t often know what we have here. And living and working overseas, I can see absolutely objectively what we have here.”

Cate further said that she is promoting homegrown stories. For instance, her latest movie The New Boy, which also stars Aswan Reid, Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair. The plot traces the journey of an Indigenous youth with supernatural powers. The story is set in outback Australia during World War II. 

She has also co-produced the movie. Speaking about the film, the actress said, “Any chance I have to amplify that and to find ways for that work to get out overseas and be celebrated, but also to be celebrated here, is deeply important to me.”