Cate Blanchett on Facing Russell Crowe’s On-Set Reputation
Cate Blanchett opens up about working with co-stars who have a tough reputation, sharing her candid experience alongside Russell Crowe during the making of Robin Hood.
There’s a fair bit that goes into being a top-notch actor, and if you ask those who’ve followed Cate Blanchett’s career, gutsiness is right up there. Blanchett’s name pops up often when folks talk about the heavyweights of the film world, especially among those who’ve earned similar respect. Meryl Streep, for example, once gave Blanchett a nod that most actors would be chuffed to receive, calling her one of the bravest in the business and someone she looks up to.
“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 thing that stands out about Blanchett, even after years in the industry, is her cool-headedness. It’s not easy to pull off that sort of reputation without coming across as trying too hard, but for Blanchett, it just seems to come naturally. Whether it’s her look or her knack for slipping into any role, she’s got a way of making even the oddest gigs work. Take her appearance at Glastonbury in 2023, for instance, when she jumped on stage with Sparks for ‘The Girl is Crying in her Latte’—she even featured in the music video. The best bit? The quirky dancing was her idea, and the band just let her run with it.
Working with Big Names and Big Egos
Given all that, it’s no wonder people reckon Blanchett is one of the most unflappable actors around—always ready to go the extra distance for a cracking performance, no matter who she’s sharing the screen with. That said, her path hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Even she’s had to handle co-stars whose presence can be a bit daunting, even if everyone’s working towards the same end goal.
One standout example is from the 2010 film Robin Hood. Blanchett told Parade that Russell Crowe’s reputation definitely made an impression before they even started filming.
“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 added,
“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.”
Challenging Expectations on Set
Blanchett also spoke about what it’s like being a woman working alongside blokes in the industry, especially when it comes to action scenes. She pointed out that there’s often an expectation for female actors to always look a certain way—more polished or graceful—even when the scene calls for something rougher. As annoying as that can be, it’s also part of what’s earned her such a solid reputation. She might be aware of those expectations, but it doesn’t stop her from enjoying the work, knowing she can tune out the background noise when it matters most.
As she put it,
“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.”