In this clip from 2002, a perfectly poised Cate Blanchett appears on talk show Parkinson to promote the release of her films Charlotte Gray (Gillian Armstrong, 2001) and The Shipping News (Lasse Hallström, 2001). Michael Parkinson's interview with the then 33-year-old star gives some fascinating insights into how she navigates sexism in the film industry. In this excerpt, she responds to some of Parkinson's long-winded questions about her status in the industry with self-deprecating honesty and a sense of humour. These attributes make her an entertaining guest, yes, but are also key to maintaining a healthy attitude to fame and success in a competitive business.

When asked by Parky if she finds being an actress fulfilling, Blanchett quickly answers yes. What follows is a discussion of something as relevant in 2025 as it was 23 years ago – sexism in Hollywood and how actresses navigate the demands of the movie industry. Cate astutely notes that women’s performances aren’t critiqued in the way men’s are, simply because 'they’ve got breasts'.

She later points out that she has built a career on doing what interests her, which sounds like good advice for any performer. Our Cate has continued her career along that path, winning Oscars for The Aviator (Martin Scorsese, 2004) and Blue Jasmine (Woody Allen, 2013) and receiving a further six Oscar nominations to date.