Regarded as one of the best performers of her generation, she is recognised for her versatile work across independent films , blockbusters , and the stage. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art , Blanchett began her career on the Australian stage in and made her feature film debut in She came to international prominence for her performance as Queen Elizabeth I in the period drama Elizabeth , for which she received her first Academy Award nomination.
Blanchett has performed in over twenty stage productions. She and her husband, Andrew Upton , were the artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company from to She has also produced and starred in the FX on Hulu miniseries Mrs. Blanchett is the recipient of several honorary awards. The Australian government awarded her the Centenary Medal in , and she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in Time named her one of its most influential people in the world in In , she was ranked among the world's highest-paid actresses.
Blanchett has described herself as a "part extrovert, part wallflower" child. While in Egypt , Blanchett was asked to be an extra as an American cheerleader in the Egyptian boxing film Kaboria ; in need of money, she accepted the job. That year, she was also cast as Clytemnestra in a production of Sophocles' Electra.
A couple of weeks after rehearsals, the actress playing the title role pulled out, and director Lindy Davies cast Blanchett in the role. Blanchett's first screen appearance was in the TV miniseries Heartland [ 21 ] opposite Ernie Dingo , and she went on to appear in the miniseries Bordertown with Hugo Weaving , and in an episode of Police Rescue entitled "The Loaded Boy".
Blanchett's played a young Elizabeth I in the historical drama Elizabeth , directed by Shekhar Kapur. The following year, Blanchett appeared in Bangers , an Australian short film and part of Stories of Lost Souls , a compilation of thematically related short stories.
