USA: Golden Globe nominee Cate Blanchett talks about her new thriller, "Notes On A Scandal"

Record ID: 819386

  • Title: USA: Golden Globe nominee Cate Blanchett talks about her new thriller, "Notes On A Scandal"
  • Date: 4th January 2007
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS CATE BLANCHETT SAYING: "I don't have a sense of entitlement, and particularly with a film with very dicey subject matter as this one. You know, you hope that the audience is going to connect with it but you don't expect it."
  • Embargoed: 19th January 2007 12:00
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  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVADZT4ZC26AEJ3AFNPSHS897ZZ1
  • Story Text: Recently nominated for a Golden Globe award for her supporting role in "Notes On A Scandal," Cate Blanchett is at the top of her game.
    The Oscar and Golden Globe winning actress, says she is always surprised and thrilled with a nomination, but the awards are just a nice by product of doing what she loves.
    "I don't have a sense of entitlement, and particularly with a film with very dicey subject matter as this one. You know, you hope that the audience is going to connect with it but you don't expect it," Blanchett says.
    Blanchett characterizes this year as "tremendous," as she looks back at her roles in films including "The Good German" and "Babel." She is up against costars Adriana Barazza and Rinko Kikuchi from "Babel" for the Golden Globe. But she only has words of praise for the ladies' performances in a film which she says she is also very proud of.
    In "Notes On A Scandal," Blanchett delivers an incredibly riveting performance in her portrayal of Sheba Hart, a slightly bohemian art teacher who has an affair with a 15-year-old male student.
    So how did Blanchett feel about the love scenes with her young costar?
    "One of the most uncomfortable things I've had to do. You know I spoke to Andrew Sampson's parents and to him - I couldn't even bring myself to have a conversation about how experienced he actually was, but he was game, and quite precocious and knew what he was doing, which I blushed my way through the entire thing. I was very pleased that the producer's went with a boy who was above the age of consent, even though it's all simulated."
    The story is narrated by diarist Barbara Covett (Dench), a history teacher nearing retirement at Sheba's school. After discovering the affair, Barbara acts as mother and confessor - and after the affair becomes a public scandal, Barbara comes to Sheba's defense.
    But Barbara's friendship with and defense of Sheba springs from a strong Sapphic impulse. Barbara believes the affair puts this good-looking woman in her power.
    Actor Bill Nighy, who plays Sheba's husband, says working with Blanchett and Dench was incredible. Dench was also nominated for an award for her role in the film, which Nighy says is well deserved. In fact he says, he thinks Dench is one "of the great actresses," on-screen today.
    "Judy, she is just extraordinary. As Cate was saying earlier, she kind of it does appear to be effortless in what she achieves. She is one of the great actresses of our time but you wouldn't know that to hang out with her on a film set. She is in no way, she wears her eminency very lightly."
    Whether Blanchett or Dench will take home awards on Golden Globe night remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, both women will have audiences on the edge of their seats in this psychological thriller.
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