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Hunters Hill Local News |
8 April 2008
BLANCHETT, A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE
Blanchett, a woman of substance
Wednesday 2 April, 2008 12:00pm
HAVING forged a stellar career in Hollywood, actress Cate Blanchett showed that she still called Australia home, settling in Hunters Hill in 2004.
Though she was born in Melbourne and completed an economics and fine arts degree at the University of Melbourne, Blanchett chose to settle in Sydney on her return to Australia.
Blanchett and her husband, writer and director Andrew Upton and their two children live in Bulwarra, an 1870s sandstone mansion that she reportedly purchased for $10.2 million in 2004.
Bronze lions guard this exclusive waterfront residence that was once occupied by Halse Rogers Arnott, the biscuit manufacturer.
In 2007 it underwent extensive renovations reportedly worth $1.5 million in order to be made more "eco-friendly". Features included grey water recycling, a 20,000 litre water tank, solar paneling and energy-saving lights.
Though not often seen in Hunters Hill, the intensely private actress has been spotted occasionally in local shops. She is more often seen out supporting environmental initiatives such as the Walk Against Warming and Earth Hour.
Last February she was announced as one of 10 high-profile Australians who will lead Kevin Rudd's Australia 2020 summit in April.
Blanchett will represent creative Australia on the independent steering committee and lead a group of 100 people in discussing the future of the arts, film and design.
Blanchett has worked as an actress for more than 15 years. Alongside her husband she is the co-artistic director, co-chief executive officer and board member of the Sydney Theatre Company.
After getting a taste of acting as an extra in an Egyptian film, Blanchett graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1992.
A year later she was the first person to win both the Sydney Theatre Critics Circle best newcomer award (Kafka Dances) and the best lead actress award (Oleanna) in the same year.
In 1997 she starred in the film Paradise Road the first in a career that would span 28 major film roles including that of Queen Elizabeth I. Blanchett has won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in The Aviator and has also won two Golden Globes as well as AFI and BAFTA awards.
She has also been awarded the Centenary Medal for service to australian society through acting.
Next Blanchett has a role as agent Irina Spalko in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and will be playing Daisy in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
The 39-year-old is also expecting her third child in April.
Courtesy of Northern District Times
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