‘I'm giving up': Cate Blanchett says she is retiring from acting
In an interview with Radio Times, Blanchett suggested she was uncertain over calling herself an 'actress', saying: 'It's because I'm giving up.'
She added: '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 was speaking as BBC Radio 4 prepared to air her first major radio play, an adaptation of Wallace Shawn's play The Fever about a woman who undergoes a political and spiritual awakening. Blanchett has just completed a five-week run on stage as Arkadina in Chekhov's The Seagull at London's Barbican theatre, and her most recent major film role, opposite Michael Fassbender as a married spy in the Steven Soderbergh-directed thiller Black Bag, was released in March.
Blanchett has won numerous awards for her acting, including two Oscars (best actress for Blue Jasmine in 2014 and best supporting actress for The Aviator in 2005) and two best actress awards at the Venice film festival (for I'm Not There in 2007 and Tár in 2022).
She recently finished working on a new film directed by Jim Jarmusch, Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, which is due for release in 2025 (though was surprisingly omitted from the recent announcement of the lineup for the Cannes film festival), and is currently working on Alpha Gang, a sci-fi comedy directed by David and Nathan Zellner, as both actor and producer. She is also attached (again as both actor and producer) through her production company Dirty Films to The Champions, a film to be directed by Ben Stiller.
Despite her high levels of activity, Blanchett says in the interview that she is uncomfortable with her position as a celebrity actor.
'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.'
She added: 'No one is more boring to me than myself and I find other people much more interesting. I find myself profoundly dull.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
James Bond legend, 72, would consider surprise return as 007 ‘in a heartbeat'
Pierce Brosnan has revealed he would be keen to stage a surprise return to James Bond, more than two decades after he bowed out of the franchise. The 72-year-old began his reign as 007 in 1995 and appeared in four movies in total – GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day – before Daniel Craig took over the role. While we're waiting for any hint of who the next actor portraying the suave spy will be, it was recently announced that director Denis Villeneuve will be helming the upcoming movie. In a new interview to promote his next movie, The Thursday Murder Club, Pierce shared that he would consider a comeback if the filmmaker had 'something up his sleeve'. When asked if he would take up the role again, and whether it was 'time for a senior citizen 007', he didn't exactly say no… 'My wife Keely [Shaye Smith] and I have been listening to the drumbeat of expectation of who's going to be the next James Bond,' he told the Radio Times. 'There are many great candidates out there, and I'm sure they're going to make it a spectacle of delight. 'I don't think anyone wants to see a craggy, 72-year-old Bond, but if Villeneuve had something up his sleeve I would look at it in a heartbeat. 'Why not? It's great entertainment. It could be lots of laughs. Bald caps, prosthetics… who knows?' Someone get Denis on the phone, immediately. Pierce last appeared as Bond in 2002 blockbuster Die Another Day, and is regarded as one of the best 007s in history. This isn't the first time that he has touched on possibly popping back up in the franchise – and admitted that he would be tempted. 'Of course, how could I not be interested? But it's a delicate situation now. I think it's best to let sleeping dogs lie, really. I think so,' he previously told GQ, describing the possibility as 'a rather romantic notion and idea'. He added: 'I think that it's best left to another man, really. Fresh blood.' More Trending The search for a new lead began after Daniel left the role in 2021, following the release of No Time To Die. Although film bosses have not yet unveiled his replacement, speculation has gone into overdrive over who could follow in his footsteps. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Idris Elba, Taron Egerton, Henry Golding and Aaron Pierre are just some of the famous faces who have been linked to the franchise. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: James Bond legend Joe Caroff dies aged 103 after creating piece of film history MORE: BBC star could be first ginger Bond after 'screen-testing for role' MORE: James Bond film dubbed 'the best' by fans finally hits free streaming service
Time Out
a day ago
- Time Out
These stunning NYC restaurants have been shortlisted for this year's Restaurant & Bar Design Awards
The Oscars of restaurant design are back—and New York has shown up dressed to kill. The annual Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, which spotlight the most jaw-dropping dining spaces around the globe, just revealed its 2025 shortlist and a handful of NYC spots made the cut. If you needed an excuse to eat somewhere pretty enough to make your Instagram followers jealous, consider this it. Brass, designed by Islyn Studio, is a love letter to glam nostalgia. With gleaming metallic surfaces, rich textures and a mood that feels part supper club, part glossy fever dream, it's no surprise it's up for multiple categories, including Standalone and Heritage Building. Translation: historic but make it chic. La Tête d'Or, Daniel Boulud's latest Midtown showpiece, is another strong contender. Velvet banquettes, an amber glow and a kitchen that doubles as an architectural centerpiece make it a visual feast before the steak even hits the table. The design has been recognized for both Lighting and In Another Space, but the 45-day-aged rib-eye might deserve an award of its own. The View, from Rockwell Group, is shortlisted in the Hotel category and practically cheats with its built-in asset: skyline vistas. Add in Rockwell's signature polish and you've got a dining room that reminds you why people put up with New York rent prices. Ken Fulk's Felix Roasting Co. has long been the city's most decadent caffeine fix, with marble counters, vintage-inspired fixtures and the kind of jewel-box interiors that make your flat white feel like a fashion accessory. The café nod proves that even your morning espresso deserves drama. The Otter, a hotel restaurant from Hannes Peer, is pure playfulness, combining bold colors, luxe finishes and splashy murals. Shortlisted across multiple categories, it proves that maximalism is alive and well downtown. And then there's Mission Ceviche, the first full-service restaurant from chef José Luis Chavez. Airy interiors, biophilic design touches, and South American flair landed it nominations in Standalone and Surface Interiors. Between the Nikkei ceviche and the moody-but-fresh aesthetic, it's basically a mini vacation on East 74th Street. They're not alone: Obvio, Clemente Bar, Twin Tails, Postcard and Crane Club also earned recognition this year, underscoring just how wide and varied New York's design talent runs, from inventive visual identities to hotel showpieces and intimate standalones.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Midsomer Murders' Neil Dudgeon opens up on being replaced after 'cancellation' remark
The much-loved ITV series, Midsomer Murders, is back on our screens tonight with a rerun of an episode from series 23 titled The Debt of Lies Neil Dudgeon will be reprising his role as Detective John Barnaby, alongside Nick Hendrix, who plays Detective Sergeant Jamie Winter in Midsomer Murders. The plot for tonight's episode reads: "When the latest resident of a police retirement community is found dead, the tight-knit group regards a murder on their doorstep as both an affront and a challenge." As fans eagerly anticipate new episodes of Midsomer Murders, Neil recently addressed rumours about his departure from the show and revealed when the series would return to television, according to the Express. Neil joined the cast in 2011, replacing John Nettles, who played the original chief detective, Tom Barnaby. In a chat with Radio Times, he admitted that he would continue playing the detective until the show's bosses decided it was time for him to leave. On the topic of his future on the show, Neil said, "No, I assume that at some point I'll get the hook. You know, the hook will all come and sort of drag me off into the wings, and they won't want me anymore. "But they haven't done it yet, so I'm going to keep going to work until I get the hook." In a separate interview with Radio Times, Neil shared his initial concerns about taking over from John Nettles as the lead detective. He confessed, "It was hard at the beginning because John had done it for 14 years. "If they'd cancelled me after one series, that would have been embarrassing! It gets easier, but I try to keep it fresh. Even if I've gone through the script 50 times, I'll look at it again and have another thought. It's still extremely pleasant and I'm extremely grateful." The actor who plays John Barnaby also revealed some thrilling news about series 25, which will feature four new tales. Although he's unsure of when the episodes will be broadcast, Neil confirmed that filming kicked off in March this year. 'I don't know when it's next being broadcast, but we start filming again at the end of March for season 25, so it goes on," he declared. "We've had a year off this year. We didn't film this year, but last year. But we are filming again this year. We're filming four new stories from March this year." Midsomer Murders is back tonight at 8pm on ITV.
