Cate Blanchett commands the screen with an intensity that few others can match. You likely know her as the elf queen Galadriel or the villainous Hela, but her range is limitless. She once played Bob Dylan and won an award for it. Furthermore, she is the only person to win an Oscar for playing another Oscar winner. Her journey started with chocolate commercials and led to global stardom. Let’s explore the life of this versatile actress.
Cate Blanchett
She started her career as the face of Tim Tam biscuits in Australia. Consequently, she appeared in a series of commercials where she asked a genie for endless packets of the chocolate treat. This early role made her a recognizable face long before Hollywood called.
Her first movie role was an extra in an Egyptian boxing film called Kaboria. She needed money while backpacking in Egypt, so she agreed to cheer in the background of a scene. However, she hated the experience and walked off the set early.
Cate Blanchett knocked on neighbors’ doors looking for a lost dog that did not exist. Surprisingly, she played this prank as a child just to get invited inside for sweets. Thus, her acting skills developed very early in her life.
She absolutely despises the color green because of her old school uniform. The muddy shade she wore for years made her hate the color permanently. Therefore, she avoids wearing it whenever possible in her personal life.
Cate Blanchett thought her husband, Andrew Upton, was incredibly arrogant when they first met. Similarly, he thought she was aloof and difficult to talk to at the party. Fortunately, a late-night game of poker eventually brought them together.
Her husband proposed to her after just three weeks of dating. She cooked him a terrible meal of trout and walnuts because she had no other food. Nevertheless, he ate the bad food and asked her to marry him immediately.
She played the legendary singer Bob Dylan in the movie I’m Not There. Remarkably, she wore a sock in her trousers to help her walk more like a man. This strange method helped her deliver an award-winning performance.
Cate Blanchett is the only actor to win an Oscar for playing another Oscar winner. She won the award for her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator. This unique achievement cemented her status as a Hollywood legend.
She received two Oscar nominations for playing the same character in different movies. Specifically, she played Queen Elizabeth I in both Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Only a few actors in history have ever achieved this double honor.
She voiced a character in the animated show Family Guy. She played Penelope, a toddler who tries to kill Stewie Griffin. She donated her entire salary from the episode to a charity.
She swears by Emu oil as her primary skincare secret. She applies the oil daily to keep her skin hydrated and youthful. Aboriginal Australians have used this natural remedy for thousands of years.
She shaved her head completely for her role in the movie Heaven. She found the experience incredibly liberating and enjoyed the feeling of the wind on her scalp. Furthermore, she claimed it helped her focus entirely on the character.
She kept her prosthetic elf ears from The Lord of the Rings. She famously played the royal elf Galadriel in the trilogy. Now, she keeps the delicate props in a safe place at her home.
She worked as a reader for casting agents when she could not get acting jobs. She sat in auditions and read lines opposite other actors who were trying to get the part. Eventually, the casting directors realized she was better than the people auditioning.
Cate Blanchett learned the Brazilian martial art Capoeira for her role in Thor: Ragnarok. She wanted her character, Hela, to move in a unique and deadly way. Thus, she trained extensively to master the fluid fighting style.
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Christina Hendricks commanded the screen as Joan Holloway in the hit series Mad Men. Her sharp wit and classic style made her an instant icon of sixties fashion. However, she struggled for years in Hollywood before landing her breakout role. Surprisingly, she worked as a model and a music video actress while waiting for her big chance. Today, she continues to dazzle audiences with her range in both comedy and drama. Prepare to meet the woman behind the red lipstick.
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Christina Hendricks served as the hand model for the American Beauty poster. She held the rose on the iconic stomach image. Therefore, her hand became famous long before her face did.
Naturally, she is actually a blonde, not a redhead. She began dyeing her hair at age ten after reading Anne of Green Gables. Consequently, she kept the fiery look for her entire career.
She plays the accordion in real life. The writers of Mad Men added this skill to her character, Joan. Thus, she performed the French song “C’est Magnifique” herself on the show.
Christina Hendricks went through a heavy goth phase in high school. She dyed her hair black and purple while wearing leather jackets. Unfortunately, other students bullied her relentlessly for her alternative style.
She holds dual citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom. Her father came from England, which gave her this status. Therefore, she feels a strong connection to British culture.
Professionally, she worked as a shampoo girl before she became a model. She washed hair in a salon during her teenage years. Eventually, she entered a cover contest for Seventeen magazine that launched her career.
She voiced the villain Gabby Gabby in Toy Story 4. Pixar cast her because they wanted a voice that sounded welcoming yet creepy. Thus, she brought the vintage doll character to life perfectly.
Christina Hendricks starred in the music video for “One Hit Wonder” by Everclear. She appeared as a game show contestant in the nineties clip. Consequently, rock fans recognized her long before she reached prime time.
She loves to knit on movie sets to pass the time. In fact, she often brings her needles and yarn to her trailer. This hobby helps her relax between intense scenes.
Interestingly, she was voted “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire magazine. The publication gave her the title in 2010 after a reader poll. However, she always focused more on her acting skills than her looks.
She played a con artist named Saffron in the sci-fi show Firefly. Fans loved her performance as the deceptive wife of Captain Mal. Therefore, the character returned for another episode due to popular demand.
Originally, her agency dropped her for taking the Mad Men role. They claimed a period piece about an ad agency would never succeed. Luckily, Christina Hendricks ignored their bad advice and took the job anyway.
She keeps a fully stocked bar in her home. She appreciates fine scotch and whiskey. Furthermore, she even served as a brand ambassador for Johnnie Walker.
She acted as a judge in the architecture movie The Neon Demon. She played a modeling agent who ruthlessly judged young girls. Thus, she channeled her own early experiences in the fashion industry.
Finally, she possesses a massive collection of hats. She loves to wear vintage headwear in her daily life. Consequently, her personal style often reflects the classic eras she portrays on screen.
Julia Roberts defined the romantic comedy genre with her infectious smile and natural charm. She broke salary records for women in Hollywood and proved her dramatic range with an Academy Award win. Furthermore, she maintains a relatively private life despite being one of the most famous faces on the planet. Consequently, America's Sweetheart continues to captivate audiences decades after her breakout role. Explore these fascinating details about the Pretty Woman star.
Julia Roberts
Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife personally paid the hospital bill for her birth. Remarkably, her parents ran a theater school that the King children attended, so the families became friends.
She became the first actress to earn a salary of $20 million for a single movie role. Specifically, she commanded this historic paycheck for her Oscar-winning performance in Erin Brockovich.
The original script for Pretty Woman was a dark drama titled 3000. However, Disney bought the rights and transformed the depressing story into the modern fairytale we know today.
She agreed to appear on Friends only if Matthew Perry wrote her a paper on quantum physics. Hilariously, he actually wrote the essay and faxed it to her the very next day.
She famously canceled her wedding to Kiefer Sutherland just three days before the ceremony. Consequently, the media frenzy around this event later mirrored her role in the movie Runaway Bride.
The body on the famous Pretty Woman movie poster does not actually belong to her. In fact, the studio superimposed her head onto the body of her double, Shelley Michelle.
Her character in Ocean’s Twelve pretends to be the real Julia Roberts. Amusingly, the script required her to play a character who is bad at acting like herself.
She loves knitting on set to pass the time between takes. Reportedly, she finds the hobby relaxing and often makes gifts for her fellow cast members.
Julia Roberts converted to Hinduism after filming Eat Pray Love in India. Thus, she actively practices the religion and visits temples with her family to this day.
People magazine named her the World’s Most Beautiful Woman a record-breaking five times. Therefore, she holds the title more times than any other celebrity in the publication’s history.
She originally wanted to become a veterinarian rather than an actress. However, she eventually abandoned this dream because she possessed a deep fear of seeing animals in pain.
She played the clarinet in her high school marching band. Surprisingly, she was a dedicated band geek long before she walked the red carpet.
She is naturally left-handed but learned to write with her right hand for a role. Specifically, she made the switch for Erin Brockovich because the real-life Erin was right-handed.
Archaeologists named a 9,000-year-old female skeleton “Julia” in her honor. Evidently, the researchers chose the name because the skeleton possessed perfect teeth that reminded them of her smile.
Finally, she reportedly insured her famous smile for a massive sum of $30 million. Unlike other stars who insure their legs, she protected her most recognizable asset against any damage.
