A thought on finding the truth

“People assume actors are born liars but I’d argue the actor’s job is to tell the truth. And I’ve realized I’m not a good liar.”
— Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett — who gave this answer to a 2013 interview — is a fascinating performer, and one of the great actors of my generation. She seized my attention with 1997’s Oscar and Lucinda, a two-hander with Ralph Fiennes directed by fellow Australian Gillian Armstrong, and a year later had the world on notice in Elizabeth, playing the Tudor queen.

After that, she was in the movie star business. Not necessarily the easiest place to be.

Her choices have been interesting, and the variety has probably paid off. She has won two Academy Awards, and has moved from spectacles (she will always be Galadriel to Middle Earth fans) to indies to Marvel movies. One of her smaller roles: playing Petal Bear in the adaptation of The Shipping News. She won her Oscars for playing Katherine Hepburn (a multi-Oscar winner herself) in The Aviator and the title role (sort of) in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine.

She’s one of those actors always worth the gamble of time.