by Nathaniel R
Blanchett last week at a Louis Vitton fashion showFuture screen giant and supreme actress Cate Blanchett was born in Ivanhoe Australia a half century ago on this very day. Happy 50th birthday, goddess!
Last year at this time we were enjoying the two time Oscar winner in Cannes every day as she led the most stylish jury ever assembled but this year in May we have no Cate Blanchett to enjoy! It's a weird lull in Blanchett-mania so perhaps she's celebrating her birthday somewhere private today? Or maybe she's in Cannes again? We'll see.
Her next picture, Richard Linklater's Where'd You Go Bernadette arrives in theaters in August but until that time, let's celebrate all the Blanchettian goodness we can. She's given us so much over the years, with her sharp celebrity wit, fashion savvy, and (above all else) her inspired screen performances. So herewith...
50 Appropriate Ways to Celebrate Cate Blanchett This Week
Try them and report back on your success!
01 Kneel before your queen.
02 Channel her by being intimidatingly perfect.
03 Wear something fabulous today but dont let it wear you; you ARE the red carpet.
04 If you're not in the mood for beautiful dress, consider a stylish suit.
05 Describe someone you're crushing on as "flung out of space" and see how they react...
06 If they immediately start gushing about Carol (2015), propose marriage -- duh, they're a keeper.
07 Watch Thor: Ragnarok, Carol, Blue Jasmine, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Babel or The Aviator (they're all currently streaming on Netflix)
08 Do your best Katharine Hepburn impersonation for friends (but don't tell them you're actually doing it as Cate Blanchett doing Katharine Hepburn.)
09 While you're on celeb impersonations, create a seventh "embodiment" of Bob Dylan that was deleted from a Todd Haynes movie and sing a Dylan song in Cate's honor.
10 Wear green because you look divine in it.
11 Open all doors today with as much flair as Cinderella's stepmother.
12 Threaten somehow who looks like Lily James or Chris Hemsworth for fun.
13 Form your own Cannes jury for the week, right now (who will you pick?) and discuss the Art of movies with them every day as celebrities arrive in France en masse.
14 Dare someone to strip Spain bare with the hurricane inside them. Demonstrate for them if they're confused "I, too, can command the wind, sir..."
15 Remember The Good German. Congrats, you're the first person who has in some time!
16 Ignore all men today. Even if they look like Kyle Chandler!
17 ...and flirt outrageously with a girlfriend
18 Then give her whiplash by pretending you're disgusted when she flirts back.
19 Smear your mascara and greet your friends with your scariest Notes on a Scandal breakdown. "Here I ammmmm."
20 In fact, just exude as much sapphic energy as possible all day... with any "costar" you come in contact with.
21 Pretend all your girlfriends are in love with you. [Please note: if you are Cate Blanchett and reading this, there is no need to pretend; They are.]
22 Speaking of... watch Oceans 8 (2018) on HBO. Debbie Ocean and Lou totally did it in college, don'cha know. Or at least Lou suggested they did.
23 Send a Cate Blanchett gif with every text message today. There are literally hundreds of perfect hilarious and inspiring gifs to choose from.
24. Rank all the actors that have been double-nominated in a single Oscar year. Where does Cate Blanchett fall for you?
25 Confess which Cate Blanchett picture you still haven't seen that you really should have by now -- mine is Oscar & Lucinda because it was a) her debut and b) it costars Ralph Fiennes... how have I still not seen it after all these years?
26 Make plans to rectify that oversight.
27 Rifle through all of your personas today with speed and theatrical flair
28 Watch Manifesto, Knight of Cups, Little Fish, or The Gift (They're all streaming currently on Amazon Prime)
29 Remember how awesome she was in The Talented Mr Ripley and wonder why people don't discuss her in that more often.
30 Consider that for all her success she's also appeared in her fair share of "This Had Oscar Buzz" type movies (let it be inspiring that even the perfect people stumble on occasion!)
31 Blame something on your imaginary sister Ginger.
32 Quote Blue Jasmine (2013) all day. There are hundreds of brilliant lines (and line deliveries) to choose from.
33 Have a drink and mutter something crazy to yourself.
34 Repeat with each drink ∞. (Please note: The Film Experience is not responsible for alcohol poisoning. We make our own choices in life.)
35 Look at someone in your life today the way you look at Cate Blanchett on the regular, with awe and fascination.
36 Pretend you've won an Oscar.
37 Promise your small child to Martin Scorsese's descendants in holy matrimony.
38 In fact, watch all of her acceptance speeches on YouTube today. They're good.
39 Quote "The Earth is round, people!" with exasperated righteousness whenever anyone says something obvious today.
40 Pretend you've won a second Oscar.
41 And a third. (please, you know it's coming when she's an old lady)
42 Plan to star in a Lucille Ball biopic that never gets made.
43 Get a tattoo with whichever friend of yours looks the most like Amy Adams.
44 Find a park bench and get (un) comfortable. Stay there a while and consider what's become of your life!
45 Rank your favorite Cate Blanchett performances. Know that your list will invariably change just a few years or even weeks later, depending on how soon another movie is coming out.
46 Remember fondly the first time you saw Elizabeth (1998). So many future stars and of course Blanchett's breakthrough.
47 Stream The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Elizabeth, or Elizabeth: The Golden Age (which are all on Hulu right now)
48 Inspire unlikely heroes "even the smallest person can change the course of the future"
49 Pass every test.
50 Go into the West and diminish. Remain Galadriel.
