One of the foremost actresses of our generation, Cate Blanchett, is reportedly considering retirement from acting, as per the latest interview of the actress with Radio Times. The two-time Oscar winner has revealed her interest in pursuing other things and has also hinted that she is still not very comfortable being a celebrity. Her most recent movie, Black Bag, was released in 2025 and another one is also slated to come later this year.
Speaking about her desire to quit the industry, Cate Blanchett said to Radio Times:
“My family roll their eyes every time I say it, but I mean it. I am serious about giving up acting. (There are) a lot of things I want to do with my life.”
Blanchett rose to prominence for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in the period drama Elizabeth (1998), which also gave her the first Academy Award nomination. She has gone on to act in many movies and stage productions, winning two Academy Awards, four British Academy Film Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards, along with a Tony Award in the process.
She remains perhaps the most successful Australian actor in Hollywood.
“I’m not that person.”- Cate Blanchett on being a celebrity
Despite achieving everything that actors want to achieve in their lifetime, Cate Blanchett does not seem very content with the profession, primarily because she has outgrown the feeling of being “uncomfortable.”
Speaking about this in the interview, Blanchett elaborated:
“When you go on a talk show, or even here now, and then you see soundbites of things you’ve said, pulled out and italicised, they sound really loud. I’m not that person….I make more sense in motion – it’s been a long time to remotely get comfortable with the idea of being photographed.”
Deciphering how she felt, the 55-year-old actress added:
“I’ve always felt like I’m on the periphery of things, so I’m always surprised when I belong anywhere. I go with curiosity into whatever environment that I’m in, not expecting to be accepted or welcomed….I’ve spent a lifetime getting comfortable with the feeling of being uncomfortable.”
Of course, Blanchett’s work and film selection remain as good as ever, but given the direction she plans to choose for herself, she may not remain in the industry for long.
Anyhow, Cate Blanchett will have a huge body of work to look back to, and perhaps no major regrets, given that she has almost achieved everything actors dream of achieving.
Some of her prominent works include The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Ocean’s 8 (2018), and Don’t Look Up (2021), among many, many others.
Blanchett is also soon set to appear in Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, which is slated to release sometime in 2025.
Edited by Sourav Chakraborty